Kofi Inkoom
The Boston Celtics, who recently claimed the NBA championship, have decided to exercise Sam Hauser’s team option valued at $2.1 million ahead of the deadline this Saturday, as reported by Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
According to Himmelsbach, negotiations for a contract extension are set to commence when the window opens on July 9.
“I will say we want Hauser to be here for a long time,” remarked Brad Stevens, the team’s president of basketball operations.
Hauser, who initially joined the Celtics on a two-way contract in 2021, emerged as a pivotal player off the bench this past season. He averaged 9.0 points while shooting 42.4% from three-point range on 5.9 attempts per game across 79 regular-season appearances.
In addition to his regular-season contributions, Hauser played in 14 playoff games, significantly aiding the Celtics in capturing their 18th NBA title.
If a contract extension isn’t reached before or during the 2024/25 season, Hauser will become an unrestricted free agent next year.