The thought we were throwing around here last summer was that if Baylor was able to play right away he’d be the positional replacement for Hauser who could be the guy moved due to the salary crunch. What would we be waiting for though? He’s already physically developed so there isn’t any upside waiting there After 5 collegiate seasons he was pretty much the same player at 24 as he was when he was 20 and his Conferences Player of the Year.
I disagree, partly, with the physical development point. It's true that a 24 year old doesn't have physical projection the way a younger player would. But I think a 4-year (in Baylor's case 5-year) college player can benefit physically from the kind of full time strength and conditioning regimen that is available to NBA players. I think Hauser is an example a 24-year old who benefited from that. Scheierman looked to be in worse condition than Hauser when we first got them so he may be in position to benefit more.
I do think the Celtics probably drafted him as a Hauser replacement, but never for this season. Sam Hauser was under contract already - his 4-year extension kicks in next year. I don't think a team coming off an NBA finals win who is deep into luxury tax territory trades its 8th man who is signed for ~$2 million to create a spot for a rookie drafted low in the first round who profiles somewhat comparably. I also think the Celtics are in a salary cap place where there was not much to be gained by trading Hauser. An already good team looking to add a cheap shooter off the bench might have offered a low first round pick, but that is the most anyone was ever going to give, and it doesn't really justify the risk. To the extent Scheierman was viewed as a potentional replacement for Hauser, it would have been as a 2025-26 replacement after Hauser signed elsewhere as a free agent. He still may be viewed as a potential Hauser replacement as, starting next year when Hauser's new contract kicks in, there will be more trade possibilities.
