Category: .Free agency

Sam Hauser agrees to four-year extension to remain with Celtics

Sam Hauser is reportedly signing a four-year contract extension with the Boston Celtics. Here’s the latest.

The Boston Celtics have agreed to a contract extension with forward Sam Hauser according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal is worth four-year, $45 million, and keeps Hauser in Celtic green through the 2028-29 season.

Hauser is one of Boston’s most important bench players. He shot 42% on 3-pointers last year, one of the highest marks in the league. He’s also a reliable passer and a sturdy defender. The 26-year-old went undrafted in 2021, but signed with the Celtics on a two-way contract, spending considerable time with the club’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics. In 2022, Hauser earned enough burn at the NBA level to ink a three-year, $6 million deal, and has continued to improve since. This latest extension is great value for both parties, however adding more salary to the books does increase Boston’s future tax bills and penalties further.

Hauser joins Jayson Tatum and Derrick White in signing extensions with the Celtics this summer. Boston will enter next season as the favorites to win the 2025 NBA title.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

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YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Payton Pritchard on the Boston Celtics potentially repeating as champs

Evidently, not only is there no rest for the wicked, but also for the team that wears the crown in this league.

While some people might take the entire summer off after winning an NBA title, not only is Boston Celtics reserve guard Payton Pritchard playing on deep into the 2024 NBA offseason suiting up for the US Select Team, the Oregon native is already thinking about trying to repeat as champs. Evidently, not only is there no rest for the wicked, but also for the team that wears the crown in this league.

“Hopefully, we can win it again,” said Pritchard in a recent interview with the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. “We haven’t really talked about it yet, but that doesn’t need to be talked about. It’s already what we want.”

“We’ve got to have an appreciation for what we just did and understand it’s really hard, and look at it like we accomplished something great,” he explained. “But then we’ve got to do it again.”

With virtually the entire team that won the 2024 NBA title back under contract with the exceptions of Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett, if there is a team capable of running it back to hang another banner, it’s Boston.

Whether they will or not doesn’t just depend on Pritchard, his teammates, or even the organization writ large, however. Other moves around the league, injuries, and luck will play a role. But the Celtics like their chances.

And they should.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics re-sign Luke Kornet to a one-year deal; what else might be coming?

Even after some early deals got inked, Boston still has a decent amount left to work on.

The Boston Celtics may not be making major moves on the free agency market, but they have re-signed backup big man Luke Kornet to a one-year deal. What else is likely to be coming down the pike?

To take a look, CLNS Media’s “Garden Report” podcast brings you a special free agency edition as the NBA world prepares for big moves across the league. Where will the big names end up? Will the Celtics bring in someone new? Who will they bring back? Even after some early deals got inked, Boston still has a decent amount left to work on.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics sign center Luke Kornet to new contract

The Celtics have reportedly inked Luke Kornet to a new deal at the opening of NBA free agency.

Center Luke Kornet is set to remain a member of the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Kornet is reportedly signing a one-year deal with Boston, avoiding free agency and instead returning to the Celtics as the team looks to defend its title.

Kornet averaged 15.6 minutes per game during the regular season last year as one of Boston’s key reserves. The Vanderbilt alum also shot 70% from the field and was a steady rebounder. Importantly, he also started in 7 games for the Celtics whenever both Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis were sidelined. Given that the latter is set to miss the beginning of the 2024-25 season, Kornet’s flexibility and familiarity with how the team plays will be valuable. In his time with Boston, Kornet has also become something of a fan favorite thanks to his memorable celebrations and post-game press conferences

With Boston’s bloated payroll, the team isn’t likely to make many big splashes in free agency this summer, and re-signing Kornet takes away one of the few unknowns for the Celtics this summer.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Should the Boston Celtics pursue a reunion with Daniel Theis?

Daniel Theis could emerge as a free agency target for the Boston Celtics.

In a recent article from Masslive’s Brian Robb, a potential reunion with Daniel Theis was floated as a possible free agency move by the Boston Celtics. Theis last played for Boston in 2022 under Ime Udoka; he was part of the rotation that made it to the NBA Finals before losing to the Golden State Warriors.

Since leaving Boston, Theis has suited up for the Indiana Pacers and LA Clippers. However, he will be entering unrestricted free agency this summer and could potentially emerge as a veteran minimum target for Brad Stevens as he looks to round out the roster.

In a recent episode of “The Celtics Chronicle” podcast, the hosts discuss the notion of bringing Theis back for a third stint with the Celtics and whether he could fit within Joe Mazzulla’s system. They also discussed multiple other big man targets Robb had mentioned as potential targets.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Will the Boston Celtics bring back backup big man Luke Kornet in free agency?

If you ask one NBA analyst, it could depend on how the team’s front office feels about another reserve center on the team’s roster.

Will the Boston Celtics bring back backup big man Luke Kornet in free agency? If you ask one NBA analyst, it could depend on how the team’s front office feels about another reserve center on the team’s roster. That analyst would be HoopsHype’s Mark Deeks, who recently wrote up what he thinks of the Vanderbilt alum’s odds of sticking with the ball club he won the 2024 NBA Championship with.

“With the team since February 2022, Kornet’s second stint in Boston has now lasted almost two and a half years, which is enough to qualify him for full Bird rights,” notes Deeks. 

“This might be important, because having reinvented himself away from the modern stretch five archetype he was once thought to embody, Kornet has gotten good.”

“Always a genuine paint deterrent … Kornet has added tremendous offensive efficiency to that, and has proved hardier than it was once supposed he would be given his narrow frame,” adds the HH analyst. “Other quality teams may find a portion of their mid-level exception to use on this quality 7-foot-2 backup.”

“By virtue of having the Bird rights, the Celtics will not need to use a portion of their own to compete with that – however, they may have to choose between him and Tillman, purely for financial reasons.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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How might the Boston Celtics approach Sam Hauser’s potential free agency?

The plan might be to trigger it this offseason instead of hanging onto his bargain-basement $2,092,344 team option.

How might the Boston Celtics approach Sam Hauser‘s potential free agency? According to one NBA analyst, the plan might be to trigger it this offseason instead of hanging onto his bargain-basement $2,092,344 team option. Why would Boston inflate their already-expensive and growing tax bill, you ask?

To lock up Slam Hauser before he can hit free agency with even more of a track record pumping his value. But just because the Celtics CAN go such a route, it does not mean that they will. Noting his elite 42.2% efficiency rate from beyond the arc since joining the league, HoopsHype’s Mark Deeks that “the minimum salary represents a bargain.”

Enough of a bargain that it would make more sense to let him walk after one more season with Boston in 2024-25?

For Deeks, the answer is yes. Noting that “there exists a theoretical path in which the Celtics decline his team option and utilize his resultant restricted free agency to tie him down beyond 2024-25,” he doubts they will.

“The bargain price for an important piece seems too good of a deal to pass up, especially in light of the hefty payroll elsewhere.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Three buyout candidates for the Boston Celtics to consider

Which options are out there who could help the Celtics in a title push?

The Boston Celtics have very little left to do in order to prepare for the NBA’s 2024 Playoffs. With the best record in the entire NBA and nearly a double-digit lead on the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Eastern Conference’s top spot, the only thing left for Boston to do is tighten up its rotations for the coming postseason.

And in order to do that, the front office will need to make a decision about which players will be on the regular roster. That means filling the team’s last vacant roster spot, which could see Boston elevate a two way player, but also signing for a free agent instead.

Which options are out there who could help the Celtics in a title push?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” and “Talkin’ Cs” podcasts linked up to talk it over. Check it out in the clip above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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5 potential players the Celtics could look to add after the trade deadline

What will the Celtics do with their 15th roster spot?

The Boston Celtics may have swung two deals ahead of the 2024 NBA trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean the team is done making moves. At the time of this writing, the club still has an open 15th roster spot. The free agent pool for Boston to select from has some intriguing names, and more players are expected to be bought out of their current contracts in the next few days.

There are some limitations. Because Boston is above the first apron of the salary cap in the new CBA, the Celtics cannot sign a player who made more than the non-taxpayer midlevel exception on their original contract prior to a buyout. That means Boston can only add players who made $12.4 million or less in annual salary.

With that caveat in place, let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing names the Celtics could target.