JULY 9: Hauser’s new contract with the Celtics is now official, per NBA.com’s transactions log.
JULY 3: Celtics reserve small forward Sam Hauser will return to Boston on a three-year contract, per Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.
Himmelsbach reports that the three-year deal will be worth $6MM. The last season of the contract is non-guaranteed.
Boston possesses Hauser’s Non-Bird rights and can sign him using those. A three-year salary at the league minimum would be worth $5.66MM, so the $6MM figure is either rounded up or is a sliver above the minimum.
While at Virginia, Hauser was honored as an All-ACC First Team pick in 2021. Prior to his tenure with the Cavaliers, he played for Marquette, where he was named an All-Big East Third Teamer.
Boston first added Hauser as an undrafted rookie out of Virginia via a two-way deal during the 2021 offseason. The 6’8″ wing was promoted to the team’s 15-man roster in February.
In 26 regular season contests with Boston during 2021/22, the 24-year-old averaged 2.5 PPG and 1.1 RPG in just 6.1 MPG. Most notably, he connected on 43.2% of his 1.7 three-point looks a night for Boston.
Across 10 games for the Maine Celtics, Bostons’ NBAGL affiliate club, Hauser enjoyed a more robust role, replete with more robust stats, averaging 16.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, and 0.9 SPG in 33.5 MPG. He posted shooting splits of .487/.433/.917.
Last week, the Celtics officially declined their team option on Hauser and tendered him a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. Reporting at the time indicated a longer-team deal looked likely.
Himmelsbach adds that the Boston front office is optimistic Hauser can become a meaningful rotation contributor at some point in the duration of his new deal.
Underrated
This year in the G league, Hauser averaged 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 35 minutes per game. He also shot 46% from the field, including 40.7% on 10.8 three-point attempts per contest.
With the other talent around him on this ball club, this guy could feast.
The question is, can he do the other things to stay on the floor. He can shoot for certain,
I’m sure he can, he didn’t got the opportunity to show he can.
I am talking about for the Celtics. Their whole defensive scheme is built on switching. Hauser can’t switch on everyone on the floor. Last year Pritchard was the only guy that got any minutes who couldn’t switch, and he didn’t get many.
Well, they just signed Gallinari who is a bigger and older version of Hauser from a strengths and weaknesses standpoint.
If in a year or two Hauser can come off the bench for 10 to 15 mpg as a perimeter scorer with adequate D, the Celtics will accept the switching deficiencies.
Its gonna be interesting to see how gallo does in their defensive scheme as well.
I think he’ll surprise you, he’s not as bad as you think on defense. I was actually surprised he didn’t got more minutes last year and was rooting for him.
Obviously Stevens see that in him, so he gave him 3 years contract to lock him (last year not guaranteed).
He can be the Celtics Duncan Robinson but with better defense. I’m sure they will work with him on defense and maybe even develop his game cutting to the basket.
Anyway, he’s a solid bench player (he needs work for sure but I have faith in him).
I didn’t say he was bad on defense at all. I said “the question is, can he do other things to stay on the floor”.
And…that is the question. No doubt he can shoot. He still has to prove the rest.
Virginia plays good D, but so far, UVA players are not turning out as hoped.
HR, he’s that Cavalier, not CLE.
He can shoot in garbage time when no one plays defense
Yeah, you said that the other day dude, you need new material.
Haha, well maybe if Hauser gave me anything else to work with, but that’s all he got. That is all he will ever be. A bum making shots in garbage time
Keep raging about Hauser bro.
Championship ……..
Thought the same thing when the Knicks signed Brunson.