The Celtics are bringing back their top bench shooter for the 2024-25 season — and, they hope, beyond.
Boston on Saturday exercised the $2.1 million team option in Sam Hauser’s contract, according to multiple reports. The Celtics also reportedly plan to begin negotiating an extension with Hauser in the coming weeks.
The Boston Globe was the first to report the team’s decision, the deadline for which was Saturday afternoon.
Hauser joined the Celtics as an undrafted rookie in 2021 and developed into a core member of Boston’s rotation. The 26-year-old Virginia product appeared in 79 games this season, setting career highs in nearly every statistical category (22.0 minutes, 9.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists per game). His 42.4% 3-point shooting percentage ranked 11th in the NBA.
Consistency was an issue for Hauser during the Celtics’ playoff run, but he rebounded from a rough Eastern Conference finals to shoot 47.8% from three in the NBA Finals (11-for-23) and deliver a few unexpected defensive highlights against Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic.
By picking up Hauser’s option, the Celtics will return all five starters and their top three reserves (Al Horford, Payton Pritchard and Hauser) from their title-winning roster, though starting center Kristaps Porzingis is expected to miss at least the first month of the upcoming season after undergoing leg surgery this week.
Frontcourt backups Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Oshae Brissett will be unrestricted free agents, and Neemias Queta has a team option.
The Celtics added two new pieces through this week’s NBA draft, selecting Creighton wing Baylor Scheierman in the first round (No. 30 overall) and Gonzaga forward Anton Watson in the second (No. 54).
“Everybody on our roster, we love having here,” president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said Thursday in his post-draft news conference. “We’ll continue to work on filling out our roster for the upcoming season, but there’s no doubt that we’ll really value continuity of that.”
As for whether Boston and Hauser will reach an extension agreement, Stevens declined to discuss the forward’s contract status on Thursday but said the Celtics “want Hauser to be here for a long time.”
If Hauser does not sign a long-term deal, he would become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. The same is true for starting guard Derrick White, who is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $127 million.
The Celtics reportedly declined their team option for Neemias Queta but still could re-sign the 24-year-old backup center in free agency. Queta split this season between Boston and the team’s G League affiliate in Maine, appearing in 28 games off the bench for the big club.
