Through 17 games, the Boston Celtics have been treading the .500 mark. With their numerous losses in the offseason, combined with the absence of superstar Jayson Tatum, the Celtics are not the championship-caliber team they once were.
Since they aren’t going to win the championship this year, the Celtics should focus on saving money this year and developing their younger players instead of trying to make the playoffs through the play-in. The Celtics should start to enact these plans quickly by putting forward Sam Hauser on the trade block.
Celtics Should Float Forward Sam Hauser in Trade Talks
Throughout his time with the Celtics, Hauser has displayed his elite three-point shooter skillset, combined with his ability to be a viable defender at times. He provided the Celtics with viable contributions off the bench and was a contributing factor to the championship team in 2024.
He’s made his living diverting the attention from his star teammates by hitting catch-and-shoot shots, which earned him a four-year, $45 million contract extension in the 2024 offseason. With a contract like this comes bigger responsibility, and without the surrounding star power the Celtics once had, Hauser has been unable to expand his game.
While he’s averaging a career-high 1.4 assists, Hauser has hardly contributed on the glass or on defense, averaging just 3.4 rebounds and .5 steals. Hauser also hasn’t improved his offense outside of shooting threes, as he’s hit just 14 shots inside the arc, and has been to the line just four times.
Not only has he failed to contribute elsewhere, but he’s been underwhelming from three, shooting just 34% from three on 5.9 attempts, and averaging 6.6 points per game. Given Hauser’s inability to improve, combined with the Celtics being in a retooling phase, it would be best for both sides to part ways.
Celtics Can Shift Their Focus to Developing Their Younger Players
Hauser’s team-friendly contract would garner immediate interest from playoff-caliber teams, as they wouldn’t have to give up much to acquire the five-year veteran. Hauser can bolster a team’s depth while also providing experience and his microwave scoring ability.
Meanwhile, the Celtics can shift their focus to developing their younger players. Because the Celtics were competing for a championship the last few years, the team didn’t have time to rely on and develop their younger players.
Since they aren’t competing for a championship, they can give their younger core of Hugo Gonzalez, Josh Minott, and Jordan Walsh expanded roles and let them go through growing pains. This move would also give other players on the team a chance to prove themselves and potentially allow them to carve a role on next year’s team.
Besides that, trading Hauser would also put the Celtics under the first apron, which would set them up to make moves to improve their roster once superstar Jayson Tatum makes his return.