Phoenix Suns, watch your six! The Celtics are heading your way with their $435 million bill. Of course, they’d have to do some more to top the Suns’ half-a-billion-dollar wage bill, but this is a start. With the latest $45 million decision, the Cs are well on course to meet the Western Conference team in a battle of big spenders. Thanks to (not so much if you’re a team owner) the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the teams are shrouded in aprons when it comes to spending. But the reigning champions are throwing caution to the winds as they made sure to tighten their stranglehold on the NBA championship with the latest Sam Hauser deal.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Celtics forward Sam Hauser has agreed to a four-year, $45 million contract extension. Hauser’s agent, Jason Glushon, revealed it to the NBA insider. For now, Hauser will earn  $2.09 million for the 2024/25 season with the new contract kicking in from the 2025/26 season. This comes after the franchise secured the long-term futures of Jaylen Brown last season, and Jayson Tatum and Derrick White this season. All these big-money moves might cost the Cs down the line, but for now, this is a sign of the Boston team’s win-now mentality.

Sam Hauser was a pivotal cog in the Celtics machine last season. The catch-and-shoot player averaged 9 points last season from 44.6-42.4-89.5 (%) shooting split, mostly coming off the bench. So Hauser’s contract was understandably one of the priorities for the Celtics in the off-season. Hauser’s contract extension means the Celtics will have a projected $225 million wage bill with an additional $210 million luxury tax, taking the total to $435 million for the 2025/26 season. This will be the second most after the Suns’ projected $526 million salary plus tax bill. While this wouldn’t bother the Cs’ current owner Wyc Grousbeck, it can be a major headache for the next owners of the iconic Shamrocks.

Next owners of the Celtics to potentially find them in deep CBA hole

Just after winning the record-breaking 19th NBA championship, the Celtics owner announced the intended sale of the team. As per multiple reports, the speculated amount could be around $6 billion, just falling short of the $6.05 billion sale of the Washington Commanders of the NFL. After NBA’s new TV deal kicks in, all the franchises will have a yearly cap space increment of 10% but that would still not be enough to keep the Celtics under the second apron of the CBA, which currently stands at $188.9 million.

This will come with consequences of multiple penalties on trade and future drafts. With the core players of the Celtics’ championship-winning team under contract till the late 2020s, the side effect will be felt after that. It will first and foremost prevent the franchise from renewing their star players, which might lead to disbanding the team, and also will hinder their trade plans for the future like the ones the Suns are dealing with now. So the impetus will be on continuing winning till the troubles become too glaring to ignore.