Sam Hauser has agreed to a four-year, $45 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics , according to multiple reports. Hauser, who went undrafted in 2021 out of the University of Virginia, signed with the Celtics that summer and has developed into a key reserve for the 2024 NBA champions. In three seasons, he has shot over 42% on 3-pointers while providing steady defense off of the bench.
The Celtics have emphasized keeping their own players this offseason. They agreed to a supermax extension with Jayson Tatum as soon as they could, and a four-year, $125.9 million extension with Derrick White soon followed.
Xavier Tillman re-signed for the minimum, and as of now, the only players from last year's team not slated to be back this season are Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk . With Hauser now signed, the Celtics are facing enormous luxury-tax bills and apron issues down the line. While Hauser will earn only $2 million this season, the Celtics are over the second apron line at this moment.
When all of these extensions kick in for the 2025-26 season, they are currently slated to have roughly $225 million in salary on their books to go along with an estimated $210 million luxury tax bill, according to ESPN. In all likelihood, the plan will be to duck back below the second apron line during the 2026-27 season, which should be doable with Kristaps Porzingis slated for free agency in 2026. Still, the short-term costs will be significant.
But Hauser is young at just 26 years old, and he's probably capable of playing a bigger role than Boston's loaded roster has allowed for thus far. This contract is a bet on his future. As the second apron forces them to make hard choices down the line, they are hoping Hauser can grow into a bigger role that makes this extension look like a bargain.
.
