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Ryan Blackburn: I know they tried dispelling such rumors earlier, but Sam Hauser being a potential cost cutting move for the Celtics is still in play, and the Nuggets have a TPE to absorb his salary (though the Celtics would need to take back one small salary)
If there is any further trade activity to monitor in Boston, league sources say that Anfernee Simons is a possible re-trade candidate after the Celtics acquired the high-scoring guard from Portland in the Holiday deal. By contrast I haven't heard any credible buzz about Sam Hauser's inclusion in serious trade conversations.
Ian Begley: Celtics touched base today with teams, including San Antonio (No. 14), on deals that would land a lottery pick in tonight’s draft. (Obviously San Antonio is not moving its No. 2 overall pick). As others have reported, BOS has been getting offers for Sam Hauser and listening to offers for Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
Bobby Marks on Celtics: I am expecting more moves to happen. Your backcourt of Anfernee Simons and Derrick White will probably look different when we get to training camp. Certainly ,we'll keep an eye on what happens with Kristaps Porzingis. I think the goal is certainly to get under the second apron. (…) We'll keep an eye on Sam Hauser. We'll certainly keep an eye on maybe Derrick White. I think you have to come with the monster trade package. This basically the bridge year that Boston was going to do… This certainly is the bridge year. Right now you're probably best positioned to, and I don't want to say a fire sale, but you're basically going to probably be positioning yourself for potentially probably a lottery pick here, as far as where this roster is going and you wait till Jayson Tatum gets back and you figure out what you're going to do with your roster.
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Which players could be available if the Celtics are looking to shed salary? “Hauser, to me, is the most likely candidate to go, just because you have (Baylor) Scheierman there to effectively fill his role,” Mannix said. “I think they’d love to find a home for Jrue Holiday, just because of the contract and where they are as a team. (Kristaps) Porzingis, who knows? I don’t think they want to take on contracts that go on longer than Porzingis’ deal, but he’s certainly available. “Teams I’ve talked to just aren’t fully sure what Boston wants to do. Do they want to just nibble around the fringes and get under the second apron, or do they really want to reboot this thing, take that full gap year, and go into 2026-27 with Jayson Tatum and some other stuff as the centerpiece of the team?”
Several executives around the league believe Boston will explore the trade market for center Kristaps Porzingis, who’s owed $30.73 million and an expiring contract after the 2025-26 season. Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, who turns 35 later this month and is owed a combined $104.4 million over the next three years, including a player option for the 2027-28 season, has already been linked to trade interest from the Clippers and Mavericks. Another trade candidate to keep an eye on in the eyes of NBA executives around the league is sharpshooter Sam Hauser, a career 42 percent shooter from beyond the arc and has been a consistent rotation player for Boston the past three seasons. Hauser will begin a four-year, $45 million contract starting in the 2025-26 season.
Souichi Terada: Sam Hauser is available. Was probable on the injury report with his ankle sprain. Celtics have everyone but Jayson Tatum for Game 5 tonight against the Knicks.
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John Karalis: Celtics have ruled Sam Hauser OUT for today's Game 4. Surprising because he looked good during his shootaround session but the ankle must not have responded well.
Bobby Manning: Holiday: On Hauser: "Having Big Smooth back would be good." On Porzingis: "He looks good. I think that he's always gonna come out there and if he's on the court, he's gonna give everything he has."
John Karalis: Sam Hauser listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 4. He had been listed as DOUBTFUL ahead of the last 2 games.
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