The real question with Hauser is this: can they risk declining his option and exposing him to restricted free agency. There are only six teams with more cap space than the MLE, so it is likely the MLE is his max. If a team offers him that, would the Celtics match? If they wouldn?t, they obviously can?t go this route. If restricted free agency fends off other teams, which it very well could, can they get Hauser at enough less than the MLE that they can afford him with the Modified repeater tax going forward? A 5-year, $50 million deal this summer, for example, would cost $9.3 million next year, but also $8.6 million this year. The extra tax this year about cancels out the saved tax next year, but saves a lot of tax from years 3 through 5.