The Celtics front office has been busy all summer, and this time, they’ve extended another one of their key rotation players. The C’s and sharpshooter Sam Hauser have agreed to a four-year, $45 million contract extension that keeps him in Boston long-term. Hauser is just the latest key rotation player for the C’s to sign a multi-year extension this summer, joining Jayson Tatum and Derrick White .
Hauser is now signed in Boston through the 2028-29 season as he gets his big payday coming off a career-best season that also saw him earn a ring. In a rare twist in the league, the C’s have virtually all of their rotation players under contract beyond this upcoming 2024-25 season. Al Horford is the lone player who’s not signed beyond then, though he’ll be 39 next summer so it’s unclear what the big man will want to do going forward.
Regardless, the Celtics clearly value continuity as the front office has done its best to keep this roster intact going forward. It’s clear the Celtics want another go at the title as they’re looking to go back-to-back coming off their 2024 championship. That was likely to happen anyway considering the C’s will be bonafide contenders again.
But beyond that, there is uncertainty as it’s going to be expensive to keep this roster together. Between the salary cap, luxury tax and Collective Bargaining Agreement, this roster is going to cost a lot of money down the line. So unless ownership wants to spend lofty, historic amounts, it’s unlikely the entire Celtics core will finish their deals in Boston.
As of now, the Celtics’ projected payroll for the 2025-26 season is roughly $225 million, which comes with a historic $210 million luxury tax bill. That’s a problem for down the line, but it’s something to keep in mind for fans. For now, Hauser and the Celtics get some security for both sides.
The undrafted forward has had modest earnings thus far in his career, developing into a bonafide rotation player. So he gets his big payday coming off a great season. There’s a chance he could’ve earned more on the open market, but Hauser and the C’s were able to come to terms on a number that’s beneficial for both sides.
The salary is also reasonable for one of the best shooters in the league, so if the team wants to deal Hauser down the line, it shouldn’t be difficult to move him. The Celtics should be right at the top of the league next season with their loaded roster. Some pieces will be slightly different and luck certainly plays a factor over the course of a long season and playoffs.
But the front office has taken care of its players and future through extensions thus far this summer. And that’s all fans can hope for as the organization is now onto the goal of hanging Banner No. 19.
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