NBA Trade Rumors: Celtics Likely to Trade Sam Hauser This Summer to Stay Under Luxury Tax Despite His Elite Shooting

 

Brad Stevens has spent the best part of the past year getting the Boston Celtics below the luxury tax. He’s parted ways with Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Luke Kornet and, more recently, Anfernee Simons and Josh Minott to make that happen.

Nevertheless, Boston will be heading into the summer within touching distance of the luxury tax. After all, despite their on-court success, the Celtics are still a retooling roster. Therefore, more changes are likely to occur during the summer.

According to Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, Sam Hauser could be the player most likely to be floated in trade discussions by the Celtics if they’re looking to continue reshaping the rotation while getting under and staying cost-controlled.

“Assuming the Boston Celtics keep their core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White moving forward, Sam Hauser is the next priciest part of the rotation,” Swartz wrote. “His $10.8 million salary for next year doesn’t chew up much of the cap sheet. Although, it could be used to help match money in a potential deal for another star.”

Swartz continued: “With younger, cheaper forwards on the roster like Baylor Scheierman, Hugo González and Jordan Walsh, the 28-year-old Hauser may be the most likely player to hit the trade block if the Celtics like what they see from the young core.”

Celtics Have An Elite Shooter In Sam Hauser

While Swartz makes a good point about Hauser’s contract, it’s hard to envision the Celtics parting ways with him.

Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics are built on maximizing possessions and dominating from the three-point line. Hauser is among the best perimeter shooters, both off the catch and on the move, in the NBA.

Even this season, where he’s dealt with multiple swings, Hauser is still converting at a 38.2% clip on 6.5 attempts. That will be a career low for him in terms of shooting percentage.

So, unless the Celtics are concerned that Hauser can’t return to being a 40%+ shooter, it makes sense to keep him around. After all, he’s a proven defender at a couple of positions, has played in big games and brings championship experience.

Why Trading Hauser Would Be Painful

Hauser is the perfect modern NBA role player — a high-volume, high-efficiency 3-point shooter who doesn’t need the ball in his hands and can guard multiple positions. In a league that lives and dies by spacing, losing a shooter of his caliber would hurt Boston’s offensive identity, especially if they are trying to keep Tatum, Brown, and White as the core.

The Celtics have already shed significant salary this year. Trading Hauser would help them create more breathing room under the tax line and potentially facilitate a bigger move, but it would also remove one of their most reliable floor-stretchers.

The Bigger Picture for Boston This Summer

Boston is clearly in retooling mode. After winning it all recently, Stevens has been methodical about shedding salary and creating flexibility. The question is whether they view Hauser as expendable salary or as a keeper who fits perfectly with their championship window.

If the Celtics do decide to move him, it would likely be in a deal that brings back a younger, cheaper player or additional draft capital. However, many around the league believe Hauser’s shooting and experience make him more valuable to keep than to trade, especially at only $10.8 million next season.

For your international audience on ph-ballgm.blogspot.com, this situation highlights how even contending teams must make tough salary decisions — similar to how PBA teams constantly balance imports, local stars, and salary caps to stay competitive.

Add your sidebar poll gadget right now: “Should the Celtics trade Sam Hauser this summer?” Cross-post to Facebook with the caption above and watch the comments roll in. End the post with: “Filipino fans know how one shooter can change a team’s offense — drop your take below!”

The 2026 offseason is shaping up to be critical for the Celtics as they try to balance luxury-tax concerns with keeping their championship core intact.

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