The Boston Celtics found a diamond in the rough when they first brought in Sam Hauser in 2021. As an undrafted free agent, Hauser could choose wherever he wanted to start his NBA career. While he chose the Celtics, he interested other teams before he picked them.
The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach revealed that Hauser had two other suitors besides the Celtics.
“The Celtics and Timberwolves were offering contracts, and the Heat wanted Hauser to join their summer league team, where he could compete for a deal,” Himmelsbach wrote in an April 18 story.
Himmelsbach offered more details about what both teams offered to convince Hauser to join them.
“The Timberwolves offered a two-way contract, and the Heat wanted Hauser to compete for a two-way deal at summer league. Zarren said the Celtics had ‘a good inkling’ that the Heat were lurking, and given their reputation, they were viewed as a threat.”
Hauser himself admitted why the Heat appealed to him specifically as a player.
“I saw what Duncan [Robinson] had done and Max Strus had done [with the Heat],” Hauser told Himmelsbach. “Obviously, they have a good culture for producing guys like that.”
