S-Tier Move! Champion Shooter Stays, $435 Million a Year, Celtics' Dismantling Countdown?

Defending champions Boston Celtics have made headlines again. According to a late-night report from ESPN's renowned journalist, the Celtics have reached an agreement with forward Sam Hauser on a four-year, $45 million extension. This contract is fully guaranteed with no options included. Hauser, an undrafted player from 2022, has shown steady improvement over his three years with the Celtics. Last season, he appeared in 79 regular-season games, averaging 22 minutes, 9.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. Among the Celtics' scoring options, Hauser ranks seventh, trailing only the five starters and Payton Pritchard.

Hauser's primary role is that of a sharpshooter. He averaged 7.1 field goal attempts per game during the regular season, with 5.9 of those being three-point attempts, maintaining a 42.4% success rate. Among players who attempted over 400 three-pointers last season, Hauser ranked fourth in accuracy, trailing only Grayson Allen, Mike Conley, and CJ McCollum. His corner three-point shooting was particularly impressive: he hit 23 out of 51 attempts from the left corner (45.1%) and 37 out of 72 from the right corner (51.4%), making him a player opponents could not afford to leave open.

In the playoffs, Hauser's playing time decreased to 14.9 minutes per game, but he still averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds with a three-point shooting percentage of 38.0%. His performance in the finals against the Dallas Mavericks was outstanding, scoring 31 points over the last three games, including 9 out of 16 three-pointers. Throughout the series, Hauser made 11 out of 23 three-pointers, the same number as Luka Dončić, though Dončić needed 45 attempts to match Hauser's output. It’s clear that Hauser excels at his role, though his defense has been a liability, as he was frequently targeted in his first two seasons. He has shown some improvement defensively, but he is still not considered a standout in this area. If Hauser’s defense were above average, a four-year, $45 million contract would be a steal for the Celtics.

Even so, the contract is still quite favorable for the Celtics. In the current era of three-point shooting, similar players like Joe Harris, Duncan Robinson, and Davis Bertans signed for significantly higher amounts. Hauser’s production might be lower, but his shooting skill is comparable, and he recently helped the Celtics win a championship. Given the rising salary cap, securing him for four years at $45 million is a high-grade move. It’s worth noting that Hauser’s salary for next season is only $2.09 million, and the new contract won’t take effect until the 2025-26 season.

The 2025-26 season is set to be a critical point for the Celtics. By then, Jayson Tatum’s, Derrick White’s, and Hauser’s new contracts will kick in. Additionally, Jaylen Brown’s supermax contract, signed the previous year, along with the extensions for Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Pritchard from last season, will bring the Celtics’ payroll to $225 million. Even with the salary cap increasing by 10%, their luxury tax bill could reach $210 million, bringing their total expenditure for the season to $435 million. Due to exceeding the second apron for two consecutive years, the Celtics will face penalties such as losing the mini mid-level exception, being unable to include cash in trades, not signing buyout market players, and having their first-round picks automatically drop to the end of the first round seven years later. These restrictions will undoubtedly impact the Celtics’ operations.

This situation explains why Celtics' ownership might be eager to sell the team despite its success. It’s not because the team isn’t good enough but because maintaining such a high-caliber team is incredibly costly. However, putting financial concerns aside, the Celtics’ summer moves can be considered S-tier. Besides extending Hauser, they also secured Tatum and White with new contracts and brought back role players like Luke Kornet, Mfiondu Kabengele, and Xavier Tillman. They even retained two-way contract players Drew Peterson and JD Davison. Looking at the 2023 Denver Nuggets, it’s evident how difficult it is for champions to retain their rosters post-victory. Yet, the Celtics have managed to keep their squad intact, including securing key players like White and Hauser on reasonable deals.

The Celtics had an undeniably successful season last year, with a 64-18 record in the regular season and 16-3 in the playoffs. As long as Porzingis stays healthier next season, they have room for further improvement in the playoffs. However, the pressure is immense. If the Celtics fail to win the championship or meet expectations next year, they might be forced to dismantle the team by 2025. A $435 million annual expenditure is unsustainable for most owners, except for the ultra-wealthy like Steve Ballmer.

In summary, while the Celtics' financial future is uncertain, their current offseason moves have been nothing short of exemplary. By securing key players on team-friendly deals and maintaining roster continuity, they have positioned themselves for another strong season. Whether they can continue this trajectory or face a financial reckoning remains to be seen, but for now, their summer strategy deserves high praise.