The Celtics have officially announced that Sam Hauser has signed a contract extension, per a news press release Tuesday afternoon.
While terms of the deal were not disclosed, due to team policy, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski -- the deal is reportedly a four-year, $45 million extension. The Celtics picked up Hauser's option on the final season of a three-year, $5.6 million contract at the start of the off-season.
"You can count on Sam. He comes to work every single day with the right mindset and attitude," said Brad Stevens via a C's press release. "His shooting gets most of the attention -- but his feel for the game, defensive versatility, and his consistency as a teammate have allowed him to impact our team in the biggest of moments. We are excited Sam has decided to extend his contract with the Celtics."
Hauser has appeared in 185 games, including 21 starts with the Celtics over the last three years, with averages of 7.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per contest since originally signing to a two-way contract in August 2021. The undrafted sharpshooter owns the best three-point shooting percentage in Celtics history at 42.2% with a minimum of 150 3-point field goals and his 356 career makes ranks 15th in franchise history. Hauser is also just the fifth Celtic ever to register at least 400 rebounds, 270 three-pointers, and 115 assists off the bench.
"I'm a believer in things happening for a reason," Hauser said last month the night the C's captured its 18th title. "The Celtics gave me an opportunity, and I just try to make the most of it every day, try to get better every day."
During the 2023-24 season on his way to a championship, Hauser appeared in 79 games (13 starts) and averaged career-highs with 9.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 22.0 minutes per contest. Through 19 playoff games during the Celtics title run, Hauser averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 42.9% from the floor.
The Virginia product scored a career-high 30 points on a career-best 10-of-13 on three-point field goals and grabbed six rebounds in the team's 130-104 win over the Washington Wizards on March 17, 2024. Hauser’s 10 made 3-pointers in just under 23 minutes of action is the fewest amount of time played in NBA history of any player to record 10 made 3-pointers in a game. He also tied Jaylen Brown for the second-most made 3-pointers in a regular-season game in franchise history.
Celtic teammate and G League standout Jordan Walsh spoke following the team's Summer League finale this past weekend in Las Vegas on how much Hasuer has been an inspiration to him during his rookie season -- that was split between Maine and Boston.
"Now his name is going to be in the banners everywhere in Maine, and everyone's going to see -- here's a guy that's climbed that ladder," Jordan said in his postgame comments Sunday.
Hauser's deal is the seventh extension the Celtics have completed since last summer which includes Jayson Tatum at five-years, $315 million (super-max deal) and Derrick White at four-years, $125.9 million this month alone. Not to mention Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Payton Pritchard who all got extended as well.
The Celtics could potentially be looking at a projected $225 million payroll with an additional $210 million in luxury tax penalties by the time the 2025-26 season rolls around.
Joel Pavón
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