UVA’s Hauser, Huff agree to free agent contracts with Celtics, Wizards

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Two of Trey Murphy’s teammates agreed to NBA contracts after having not been taken in the league’s annual draft on Thursday night. Murphy was the only Virginia player drafted, selected as the No. 17 player in the first round by the New Orleans Pelicans.

Sam Hauser, whom many believed might be a second-round choice, agreed to a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics. Meanwhile, Jay Huff agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Washington Wizards.

An Exhibit 10 situation is a training camp/G League contract, which can be converted into a two-way contract before the start of the regular season, which begins in October. Huff participated in the G League camp this summer and worked out for the Wizards.

Meanwhile, Hauser was considered as one of the best outside shooters in the draft. However, skeptics have wondered if he can defend more athletic players on the NBA level. Projected as a 3-point specialist, Hauser shot 40 percent or better in all four years of his collegiate career.

A transfer from Marquette, Hauser played one season for Virginia and led te team in scoring (16 ppg) and 3-pointers (63) and was second in rebounding (6.8). He shot 50.3 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from beyond the arc and barely missed the magical “50-40-90” shooting by making 89.6 percent of his free throws. Teammate Murphy was the only Division I player in the country that hit that level.

As a two-way player, Hauser should have a similar arrangement with Boston as Kyle Guy had with Sacramento. He will likely spend most of his time in the G League, and will have a limited 45-day period on the Celtics’ roster.