The Celtics are declining their $1,563,518 club option on Sam Hauser and instead will make him a restricted free agent, a source tells Keith Smith of Spotrac and CelticsBlog (Twitter link).
While Smith doesn’t outright state that Hauser has been given a qualifying offer, that’s the likely outcome given that he says Hauser will become a RFA. According to Smith, Boston plans to work out a longer contract with Hauser in free agency.
Hauser, 24, signed a two-way contract with the Celtics last August after going undrafted out of Virginia. He was promoted to the 15-man roster in February after trades created multiple roster openings.
The 6’8″ forward played limited minutes in 26 NBA games with Boston, but did convert an impressive amount of his three-point attempts (19-44, 43.2%). Hauser was a G League standout for the team’s affiliate in Maine, putting up 20.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.9 APG and 1.1 SPG on .460/.408/.800 shooting in 13 regular season contest (35 MPG).
Hauser will reportedly be among the young players on Boston’s Summer League roster next month.
Hauser can hit 40 percent of threes all day. Will be interesting to see if he can do the other things to keep himself on the floor.
In garbage time when no one plays defense.
He shot 43 percent in college.
41 percent in the G-league.
43 percent in the NBA.
But I mean, go off.
I knew the Celtics were gonna make a big move this summer.
You mean declining an option?
You gotta wait to make this awesome and original comment when they sign him.