The Boston Celtics, fresh off their 2024 NBA championship, stunned the basketball world with a dramatic fire-sale in the summer of 2025, parting ways with cornerstone players like Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday. The blockbuster moves were a calculated effort to duck under the NBA’s second tax apron, a financial threshold that has become a looming specter for high-spending franchises. But the Celtics’ cost-cutting crusade may not be over, as recent reports suggest the team is now contemplating an even bolder move: trading away newly acquired sharpshooter Anfernee Simons and, in a shocking twist, potentially even fan-favorite Sam Hauser, a 6’8″ star with a lucrative $45 million contract.
In a bittersweet exchange, the Celtics acquired Anfernee Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers in the deal that sent Jrue Holiday westward. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard, mentored by Damian Lillard during his Portland tenure, brings undeniable flair to Boston’s backcourt. With a career 38.1% three-point shooting percentage on 6.5 attempts per game, Simons is a high-volume marksman capable of lighting up scoreboards. His $27.7 million salary for the 2025-26 season, however, makes him a prime candidate for another salary-dump trade as the Celtics continue their financial maneuvering.
Boston’s front office successfully navigated below the second tax apron, but the franchise remains $12.1 million above the $187.9 million luxury-tax threshold. Having been taxpayers for three consecutive years, the Celtics now face the NBA’s punitive repeater tax—a financial burden that could force further roster shakeups. “Unless their depleted roster works its way back into championship contention, the Celtics might be motivated to keep slashing and burning,” wrote FanSided’s Bryan Toporek, highlighting the team’s precarious position.
While Simons’ name on the trade block is unsurprising given his hefty contract and recent arrival, the potential departure of Sam Hauser would send shockwaves through the Celtics’ fanbase. The 6’8″ combo-forward, an undrafted gem who earned a four-year, $45 million extension in 2024, has blossomed into one of the NBA’s elite sharpshooters. Boasting a scorching 42.0% career three-point percentage, Hauser has become a vital floor-spacer and a beloved figure in Boston’s rotation.
Dumping Hauser’s $10 million salary, possibly alongside a minimum-contract player, could provide a cleaner path to escaping the luxury tax. However, such a move would signal a dramatic shift in priorities for a franchise that has long prided itself on competing at the highest level. Trading a homegrown talent like Hauser, who embodies the Celtics’ gritty, team-first ethos, would be a gut punch to fans still reeling from the loss of their 2024 title core.
The Celtics’ aggressive cost-cutting stems from a sobering reality: Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs derailed their title defense and set the stage for a transitional 2025-26 season. With Tatum ($54.1 million) and Jaylen Brown ($53.1 million) anchoring the payroll, and Derrick White ($28.1 million) forming the team’s new big three, Boston’s financial flexibility is limited. Moving Simons, the fourth-highest-paid player on the roster, for a contract at least $12.1 million lighter would be the most straightforward way to shed the luxury-tax burden.
Yet, the idea of parting with Hauser feels like a step too far. His development from an undrafted rookie to a reliable rotation player mirrors the Celtics’ knack for cultivating talent. Trading him would not only weaken Boston’s shooting prowess but also send a message that no player—regardless of their contributions or fan appeal—is safe in this new era of fiscal restraint.
As the 2025-26 trade deadline approaches, the Celtics face a pivotal decision: double down on their championship aspirations or fully embrace a gap year to reset their financial outlook. Simons, with his explosive scoring and youth, could fetch a solid return, potentially netting draft picks or a lower-salaried contributor. Hauser, meanwhile, remains a long-shot trade candidate, but his inclusion in discussions underscores the lengths to which Boston is willing to go to avoid the repeater tax’s sting.
For a franchise synonymous with banners and brilliance, this latest chapter feels like a departure from tradition. The Celtics’ 2024 championship run was a masterclass in teamwork and tenacity, but the road ahead looks uncertain. Will Boston sacrifice more of its soul to balance the books, or can they find a way to preserve their core while staying financially afloat? One thing is clear: the Celtics’ next move will define their trajectory for years to come.