As each day of the 2026 NBA offseason passes, we inch closer to the start of the 2026-27 regular season for the Boston Celtics. And as Opening Night draws nearer, the outline of the roster that will take the floor for Game 1 of 82 is starting to come into focus as well.
After Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens traded star forward Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, it became clear that this is a critical season for the team's current contention arc, with the team being remade to maximize the rest of the team's sole superstar, Jayson Tatum. What is the ceiling, floor, and our expectation for each of the players currently under contract with Boston given this sea change in structure for the team?
To such an end, Daniel Donabedian
and Justin Quinn of the Celtics Wire took a player-by-player deep dive into the answers for these questions. So let's dive into our assessment for Sam Hauser for this edition of our player projections for the campaign soon to arrive.
Sam Hauser - forward
Ceiling
JQ: Even after a relative down year for the Virginia alum, Hauser remains one of the best movement shooters in the NBA. But other elements of his game are key to unlocking his absolute best self, particularly his defense and health. Last season saw his efficiency suffer a bit as back issues appeared to plague Hauser for the second season in a row, impacting his shooting and defense more than his availability.
For Hauser to recover from that and actually approach his ceiling for this season, a return to the mobility and efficiency we saw from him in Boston's 2023-24 title run would be needed. And while we could project the Wisconsin native to boost his scoring and perhaps rebounding and passing numbers in such an ideal situation, the truth is that title run was likely close to a perfect mix of play on both ends for the role Hauser will likely maintain.
DD: The 2025-26 campaign was decent for Hauser, but far from great. The Celtics veteran failed to shoot over 40 percent from deep for the first time in his career and went through longer shooting slumps than usual.
The 28-year-old could easily bounce back from those struggles, though. If he’s healthier (perhaps the longer offseason helps with that), I could see him returning to form from beyond the arc and shooting over 40 percent again. He could even serve as a semi-frequent starter for the second straight season. Given Hauser’s straightforward role, I don’t envision his ceiling being any higher than that.
Floor
JQ: Heading into his age 29 season, we have already seen some concerning signs when it comes to Hauser's health. Should his back and age-related decline seep in more than what has already taken a small but noticeable bite out of what he does best continue, that would be the floor for Hauser.
What that looks like in more tangible terms would be a small drop in scoring and efficiency below even last season's numbers, but more importantly, on the defensive end of the court in particular. Even with his play on that end visibly worse than in his recent past, Hauser was still a willing and mostly capable defender. But another step slower might make for some hard choices on when to put him on the court.
DD: Hauser — a bit unexpectedly — is one of the Celtics’ longest tenured players. That means he has the trust of head coach Joe Mazzulla, even when shots aren’t falling. With that being said, the 28-year-old could still get leapfrogged on the depth chart.
As we’ve mentioned throughout these player breakdowns, the Celtics roster a lot of wings. Most of them are younger than Hauser and are better defenders to boot. If Hauser’s 3-point shot continues to waver and he looks a little slower on defense, his number of starts this season will decline. And, at worst, the C’s could move him at the deadline since he has a relatively tradeable contract. Every NBA team could use a movement shooter.
Expectation
JQ: I expect Hauser to have a season nearly identical to what he had last season save for his efficiency from 3, which I expect to bounce back. And defensively as well, as the extra long break an early postseason exit 'gifted' Boston's players ought to help whatever has been ailing his body.
But given his age and track record, I also don't think his worst- and best-case scenarios will be especially far from this outcome, either. For this and maybe another campaign, Hauser ought to be a reliable player in his role. With three more seasons ahead on his current contract, however, he might also be the most likely player dealt for future flexibility as well.
DD: As long as the injury gods stay on Hauser’s side, I think his 3-point numbers will get back on track. This will allow for a solid season, but I’m not expecting anything revolutionary. The 2024 NBA champion has shown us what’s in his bag, and he doesn’t quite have the skills or youth necessary to take another leap, unlike Celtics wings Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, and other youngsters with higher ceilings.
However, Boston doesn’t need Hauser to become the next big thing. Hitting 3-pointers and keeping up defensively will be enough for him to stay in the rotation next season (and avoid any potential trades).
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Ceiling, floor, expectations: Sam Hauser with the Boston Celtics in 2026-27
