It is said that the Lakers are interested in strengthening their substitute firepower

In the offseason, the Boston Celtics had a drastic "financial weight loss". Brad Stevens, the team's president of basketball operations, made frequent moves and successfully dealt with players such as Ju Holiday and Christaps Porzingis who hold huge contracts. The core goal is to avoid the high luxury tax.

After a series of operations, the Celtics' current total salary is only slightly higher than the luxury tax line of about $9.4 million. According to the latest analysis by Sports Illustrated senior journalist Ryan Stano, in order to completely push the total salary below the luxury tax line before the new season begins and reserve sufficient salary space for the future (especially when core Jason Tatum is expected to return from a severe injury to the Achilles tendon torn injury), the Celtics management is seriously considering the next move.

The player who is most likely to be put on the trading shelves is Sam Hauser, the team's efficient three-point shooter.

Stano clearly states that if the Celtics finally decide to part ways with Hauser, the forward who is good at projection will immediately become a hot spot in the transfer market. Among them, the Los Angeles Lakers, which are actively strengthening and eager to improve the depth of the bench, have shown clear interest. The Lakers are desperate for players who can provide steady long-range firepower on the bench, a need that is extremely common in today's league. What is the value of

Hauser? Data says everything:

Stable and high-yield three-point shooting: In the past 2024-25 regular season, Hauser played 71 games, averaged 8.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in just 21.7 minutes, and his three-point shooting percentage was as high as an astonishing 41.6%. What is even more commendable is that throughout his career, his three-point shooting percentage has always been stable at around 42% of the elite level, which is highly productive and efficient.

Cost-performance contract: Haoze is currently carrying a four-year contract worth US$45 million, and there are still three years of about US$35 million to be executed. For a top pure shooter in the league, this contract with an average salary of about 12 million is quite attractive in the current salary environment.

Although time is limited in the competitive Celtics playoff rotation (average of only 13.5 minutes per game last season, scoring 3.5 points and 1.5 rebounds), Hauser proved that he is a trustworthy space point with a massive three-point shot in the regular season. His ability to catch and run without the ball perfectly matches the needs of modern basketball for role players.

Celtic salary pressure provides real-life possibilities for Hauser's potential departure. It is completely reasonable for a team like the Lakers that urgently need to increase their external firepower, including this young shooter with a deadly three-point skill package on the target list. As the offseason advances, the future where this Celtics sharpshooter will undoubtedly become a focus of attention.