In the wake of a championship season, the Boston Celtics are grappling with internal strife as one of their key contributors feels overlooked and undervalued. According to longtime NBA insider Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, sharpshooting forward Sam Hauser has been given short shrift not only by the league but also within the Celtics’ own roster decisions, sparking tension as the team navigates a financially strained offseason.
In a recent piece highlighting the most “disrespected” players across the NBA’s 30 teams, Favale singled out Hauser as Boston’s least appreciated asset. The 27-year-old, who is set to embark on a four-year, $45 million extension next season, has quietly become a cornerstone of the Celtics’ bench with his elite floor-spacing ability. “Sam Hauser is poised to step into a bigger role that could elevate him beyond this ‘disrespected’ label,” Favale writes. “His shooting prowess and versatility make him a rare commodity in today’s game.”
However, whispers of discontent have emerged. Sources close to Hauser suggest the forward feels “betrayed” by the Celtics’ front office, which has reportedly considered salary-dumping him to duck under the NBA’s punishing second luxury tax apron. “This is a slap in the face,” a source quoted Hauser as saying. “After everything I’ve given to this team, to be treated as expendable hurts.”
Hauser’s frustration is understandable. During the 2024-25 season, the 6-foot-8 combo forward delivered 8.5 points per game on stellar .451/.416/1.000 shooting splits across 71 games, including 19 starts. His career 42 percent three-point shooting on nearly five attempts per game underscores his value as a knockdown shooter—a skill set that doesn’t grow on trees. Favale notes, “No other non-big in the league has matched Hauser’s efficiency, hitting over 40 percent of his twos and 60 percent of his threes while taking more than 30 total shots over the past four seasons.”
Despite his contributions to Boston’s championship run, the Celtics’ aggressive cost-cutting measures have put Hauser’s future in question. The team has made a series of trades and roster trims this summer to ease their luxury tax burden, and Hauser’s reasonable $11.25 million annual salary has surfaced in trade rumors. “He’s far from expendable,” Favale argues. “Combo forwards with his size and shooting touch are rare, and Boston would be wise to hold onto him as they aim to balance contention with financial flexibility.”
As the Celtics prepare for what could be a transitional one- or two-year window, Hauser’s role becomes even more critical. His ability to stretch the floor and provide defensive versatility makes him a perfect fit alongside Boston’s star-studded core. Yet, the possibility of being traded or waived looms large, leaving the young forward questioning his place in the organization.
For Hauser, the message is clear: he’s ready to prove his worth, whether in Boston or elsewhere. “I know what I bring to the table,” he reportedly told confidants. “If the Celtics don’t see it, someone else will.” As the offseason unfolds, all eyes will be on Boston’s front office to see whether they double down on their championship core or risk alienating a rising star who could haunt them on a rival roster.