NBA Rumors: Celtics Could Trade Another Fan Favorite

The Boston Celtics have already lost three huge pieces from their 2024 championship team, trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, and watching Al Horford leave in free agency.

Now, according to Michael Pina in The Ringer, Brad Stevens could resort to trading yet another fan favorite, as he continues to work to get under the luxury tax.

Boston is still in the second apron and about $20 million over the luxury tax, but, regardless of what Brad Stevens has said, it would be a true stunner if it didn’t shed more money during the season to dodge repeater tax penalties. The likely casualties are Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang, but no one should be shocked if/when Sam Hauser gets traded.

Simons was just obtained in the Holiday deal, so that's no biggie to Boston fans. Niang also has never pulled on a Celtics jersey yet. But Hauser?

That would be another tough blow for Celtics fans. He's been a tremendous three-point gunner off the bench in his four NBA seasons in Boston, averaging a combined 42% from long range.

Last season, Hauser played 21.7 minutes per night and averaged 8.6 ppg. It was the first year of a four-year, $45 million contract, averaging $11.25M annually. That would take a big chunk out of the $20M more that Stevens is trying to unload.

Simons is on an expiring deal, but at a whopping $27.7 million, he, too, could easily be shipped out by Stevens before the shooting guard ever dons a Celtics jersey.