Celtics make another big decision with Sam Hauser contract extension

Hauser joined Boston as an undrafted rookie in 2020 and has worked his way up from a two-way contract to a key part of a championship rotation.

His new deal with the Celtics underscores his importance to Joe Mazzulla’s offensive system. Boston activated its team option on Hauser’s contract on June 30, so his new deal won’t appear on the franchise’s payroll until next summer.

On Friday, July 19, ESPN’s Bobby Marks warned of the tax penalties Boston would face if the company retained Hauser long-term.

“By exercising his $2 million team option this offseason, Hauser would be an unrestricted free agent without an extension,” Marks wrote. “…Because Boston is a repeat tax team next year and the NBA is instituting stiffer penalties, a new contract for Hauser starting at $8 million would add more than $60 million in tax penalties.”

Last season, Hauser shot 42.4 percent from the perimeter on 5.9 attempts per game. He shot 38 percent during the playoffs. He’s also developed into a reliable wing defender who can play multiple positions to provide versatility within Boston’s defensive structure. By retaining Hauser, we ensure the Celtics have positional flexibility and elite scoring off the bench.

Boston has established itself as a long-term contender for the foreseeable future. It has built a dynasty around local talent and is paying the cost to keep the team intact. If the return on investment is multiple championships, then the price of doing business is worth it.

Still, there will undoubtedly be a lot of attention on the Celtics’ performance in the years to come as they come perilously close to being named the most expensive team of all time.