The Celtics' Sam Hauser is much more than a shooter - Globe

[JB]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/16/sports/celtics-sam-hauser/

Everyone knows Sam Hauser can shoot, but he provides the Celtics with so much more

By Adam Himmelsbach Globe Staff,Updated January 16, 2026, 6:41 p.m.

[Vinny Natale]

Maybe he'll stop being brought up as someone who can be traded away?

[david Pontrelli]

Problem is what do you do? Trade either SH or AS? Stand pat? We do need another 4/5, so how do we accomplish this?

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[JB]

On Jan 18, 2026, at 12:11 PM, david Pontrelli <david...@gmail.com> wrote:

Problem is what do you do? Trade either SH or AS? Stand pat? We do need another 4/5, so how do we accomplish this?

************

At this point, with Queta and Garza, do we really need a trade, other than to get under the 2nd. apron?

Amare Williams gets better by the day and even Tillman has shown some sparks of life when called upon.

The point is, do we make ourselves better by trading SH or AS for a middle of the road center? 

JB

 

Yes Indeed!

[dougl...@aol.com]

I am having a slightly different year this season, mostly because I haven't yet (figured out how to) resubscribe to NBALP; I've seen small parts of a few games.

Without being literate in the CBA, my thought now is: keep Hauser and Simons for the time being; bring Tatum back this season and see what happens with him.  If he can blend in and elevate the team, fine; if he doesn't - due to physical condition or changed team chemistry - then make a big move. This season remains training camp II.  Any playoff wins would be nice, but this is NOT a championship team or even a championship contender.  That's OK - it's a fun team, a better team than what many of us saw last fall.  

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[Vinny Natale]

You cannot have it all. So I stay with the for certain that you know.

[david Pontrelli]

If you're looking at being a championship contender this year, we dont quite have enough as presently assembled. 

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[Vinny Natale]

You can watch all games after they finish by using the URL that David provided to us.

[CeltsSteve]

The C’s have been pretty fortunate in terms of injuries now 1/2 way through the regular season. From depth perspective, what if Queta goes down? And I never thought id be saying this, but what if Garza gets hurt? He has shown himself to be a good 3-point shooter as a stretch big as well as bringing a physical presence on the glass. Actually, I think we can say he’s demonstrated himself to be a bigger, more effective offensive version of what I know I was hoping for from Tillman.

The roster right now remains unbalanced: overloaded at the wing positions and lacking depth upfront. Boucher and Tillman are on expiring deals and Minott’s deal for next year is at the team’s option. I think there could be potential to add a low cost big using some combination of those three plus sweetened by adding a future second rounder (or two) depending upon who we’re talking about the C’s are trying to acquire.

Walker Kessler, Day’Ron Sharpe, Marvin Bagley III (who Tatum likely would be pleased to see) are a few examples. Someone I really like to see Brad pursue is Jalen Smith from the Bulls. A straight up Hauser for JSmith works contract wise and would save the C’s a few million $$ in both salary plus save millions more in luxury taxes.

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/8897152

CeltsSteve

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[Jack Jemsek]

Pros for making a SH/AS trade:

• It would rebalance the team with a big that, at a minimum, would ideally provide Horford-like skills, 
• It would get the Cs potentially getting under the cap to potentially rid the owners of the luxury tax penalty (would need to be under the cap in 2026-27 as well), if indeed they want to go that route (but why save a few million when you spent a billion to buy the team), and 
• The trade economics benefit the Cs because they'd be selling high with regard to AS/AH, as both are playing exceptionally well, and so could bring back optimal returns.

Cons for making the SH/AS trade:

• The team appears to have great chemistry, and a trade could upset that,
• The current bigs have played well above expectations (Queta/Garza) and a 3rd big, Amare Williams, is playing well as a 2-way player and could be promoted, 
• SH/AS are currently showing too much value to trade for what might be available, which is a middling big,
• They can sign AS using Bird Right's, so would have a slightly better chance of retaining him if he fits their long-term plans and he accepts is Vinny the Microwave role, and
• Hauser's contract still maintains trade value next year when an ideal opportunity arises.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?

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[CeltsSteve]

Speaking of Amari Williams, he’s currently playing a G-League game with the Maine Celtics this afternoon in Atlanta as I type this.

With about 8 minutes remaining in the 4th Quarter he’s put up 12 and 11 with 5 assists.

CeltsSteve

On Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 11:52 AM JB <jb.celt...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[CeltsSteve]

Cons for making the SH/AS trade:

• The team appears to have great chemistry, and a trade could upset that,
• The current bigs have played well above expectations (Queta/Garza) and a 3rd big, Amare Williams, is playing well as a 2-way player and could be promoted, 
• SH/AS are currently showing too much value to trade for what might be available, which is a middling big,
• They can sign AS using Bird Right's, so would have a slightly better chance of retaining him if he fits their long-term plans and he accepts is Vinny the Microwave role, and
• Hauser's contract still maintains trade value next year when an ideal opportunity arises

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• The team appears to have great chemistry, and a trade could upset that, 

Agree. It could. Then again, it might not and it could be what jumpstarts a deep payoff run rape if Tatum does return this season.

• The current bigs have played well above expectations (Queta/Garza) and a 3rd big, Amare Williams, is playing well as a 2-way player and could be promoted, 

Agree. He could be promoted and that option merits serious consideration. It’s certainly the quickest and easiest way to address their front court depth. 

• SH/AS are currently showing too much value to trade for what might be available, which is a middling big,

I happen to believe that JSmith at age 25 is more than simply a middling guy. He’s on the verge of a breakout; especially with a team where his skill set can be maximized. I think he would fit with the Celtics like a hand in a glove. 

• Hauser's contract still maintains trade value next year when an ideal opportunity arises

It (contract) absolutely does still maintain value for next year and I’ll  add he could also be moved  in a potential deal prior to the draft. Standing pat through Feb. 5th though doesn’t reduce the glut of wings; and SH’s minutes are going to be reduced if and once Tatum does return. 

CeltsSteve

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[Timothy Savage]

I would just add that there's an interim space between getting all the way under the luxury tax where they just focus on getting under the 1st apron, which would remove a number of restrictions that they're currently subjected to, including using the KP TPE in the offseason.

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[Jack Jemsek]

That’s a good nuance to clarify Timothy, and can be added on the Pro side for a swap that reduces $4M in salary

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[Jack Jemsek]

Jalen Smith didn’t resign with the Pacers and the thinking was that he thought he’d get more playing time in Chicago.  Vucevic has been solid showing little decline with age, he may end up top 20 all time in total rebounds, and has blocked Smith a bit.  But at this point, he’s part of the future for the Bulls, turning 26 yo this summer.

From https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/01/bulls-notes-buzelis-center-smith-mediocrity.html

• Smith was out of the rotation at the end of last season and he used it as motivation to improve over the summer, according to Cowley, who points out that the 25-year-old big man has the best on/off numbers on the team in 2025/26. “He’s been great for us honestly,” Vucevic said. “Playing the four, playing at the five, different situations, different positions. He’s done a great job for us protecting the paint, rebounding the ball as well, bringing us some physicality. I’ve enjoyed being out on the court with him. I think our two-big lineup helps us, and I think we have good chemistry. Yeah, he’s been doing a lot for us. When ‘Stix’ plays that way and he’s aggressive it makes us a much better team.”

But he’s not necessarily a keeper either …. https://www.si.com/nba/bulls/onsi/chicago-bulls-tied-to-new-orleans-pelicans-center-17

Meanwhile, neither Jalen Smith nor Zach Collins has done enough to imply that they can be the backbone of the Bulls' frontcourt moving forward. The opening for a new center of the future is there, so why not take a chance on Missi?

Maybe a 3 team deal where the Cs use one of their TPEs to get “Stix”

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[CeltsSteve]

“Meanwhile, neither Jalen Smith nor Zach Collins has done enough to imply that they can be the backbone of the Bulls' frontcourt moving forward. The opening for a new center of the future is there, so why not take a chance on Missi?”

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There’s certainly a distinction to be made between “backbone of their front court” vs. “in the Top 8 or 9 of their rotation”.  

Zach Collins? I can see the basis of that writer’s sentiment of not being the “backbone” given his history of injuries. And in fairness, he has had some nice outings in the limited # of games he’s bern available this season. But at $18M? 

JS on the other hand is only making half that amount and is 2-3 years younger. He’s already a part of their rotation so if the Bulls don’t view him as part of their future, that’s great for a team like the C’s. It diminishes the cost to acquire him. 

And what should also be viewed as another in the PRO column is he’s still under contract another year after this so there’s a degree of cost certainty for the C’s salary cap.  The end date of his deal aligns with Queta’s contract. Two young, talented bigs both about to enter their prime at a combined cost of only $12M in today’s NBA?  Yes, please.

CeltsSteve

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