The Boston Celtics are ready to put a disappointing offseason behind them as the regular season nears, though they may not be done retooling their roster just yet.
Facing second-apron penalties and potentially a full year without Jayson Tatum, Boston traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis before eventually flipping Georges Niang, whom they received in the Porzingis deal with the Atlanta Hawks. There has also been speculation that the club is interested in rerouting Anfernee Simons after acquiring him from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Holiday.
The team still has a shot to stay in the running in a wide-open Eastern Conference, though their relatively unproven big men could pose an issue. Heading into the regular season, it appears that several players could hit the trade block.
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Sam Hauser named trade candidate by Celtics analyst
NBC Sports Boston’s staff recently released their midseason headline predictions, with Celtics Pregame Live host Kayla Burton speculating that the club will trade fan-favorite forward Sam Hauser.
“I am not going to say where because I have no idea, and as sad as this headline makes me feel, I just think they make a bold, somewhat sad move around the trade deadline and acquire a big man," she said.
With Tatum sidelined, Hauser is in line for an increased role this season. The 27-year-old could significantly raise his trade value, and his three-point shooting could draw interest from contending teams.
Boston’s options at center are currently Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and Chris Boucher, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team move for another big man. Hauser could be a casualty in a potential trade, which would sting for Celtics fans.
The undrafted forward out of Virginia has been a valuable member of the team’s rotation the past three seasons, shooting an impressive 42 percent from beyond the arc during that span. However, that doesn’t mean he’s safe from a midseason trade before the deadline in February.
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