Early look at the 2026 draft

[slightly biased bias fan]

I am a big fan of Thomas Haugh.

I thought he could have been a valuable sleeper pick, but lately he has been on a run, which unfortunately would push him out of the Celtics reach.

[CFAN38]

I am a big fan of Thomas Haugh.

I thought he could have been a valuable sleeper pick, but lately he has been on a run, which unfortunately would push him out of the Celtics reach.

I agree Haugh is easy to project into an NBA role. The more I look into this draft as long there isn't a mass return to college a good player like Haugh should slip outside the top 20.

[Celtics4ever]

Arkansas's  Trevon Brazile looks interesting.  Raw but has great athletic tools to build upon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HblEca0cYwA

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4698719/trevon-brazile

Projected as a second rounder, presently.

[Celtics2021]

Jayden Quaintance is an interesting name to look at.  Originally projected as a top 10 pick, he has barely played in college, now in his sophomore season, because of an ACL injury.  It is unclear how far he will fall, but despite being a sophomore, he does not turn 19 until July so he has a lot of development time left in him.  Someone will probably nab him before the Celtics are on the clock, but if not, this would be a swing for the fences choice.

[hwangjini_1]

someone who might be available in the mid-20s range is Joshua Jefferson.

athletic, but not an elite athlete, but does many things well as a pf and doesn't shy away from physical contact. i think he could be a good rotation player in a couple of years.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/joshua-jefferson

[CFAN38]

Arkansas's  Trevon Brazile looks interesting.  Raw but has great athletic tools to build upon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HblEca0cYwA

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4698719/trevon-brazile

Projected as a second rounder, presently.

I like Brazile, not sure how he fits in the Cs system but I do think he finds a role in the NBA. He is long,athletic, and explosive around the rim. Also a great stocks guy (steals and blocks). He shoots the 3 in college but given his slight frame this will probably have to be a focus for him to hit his ceiling in the NBA. 

[CFAN38]

Jayden Quaintance is an interesting name to look at.  Originally projected as a top 10 pick, he has barely played in college, now in his sophomore season, because of an ACL injury.  It is unclear how far he will fall, but despite being a sophomore, he does not turn 19 until July so he has a lot of development time left in him.  Someone will probably nab him before the Celtics are on the clock, but if not, this would be a swing for the fences choice.

Medicals will be huge for him, if cleared he is a lottery pick.

[Csfan1984]

Give me the best 6'10 athlete that can defend and switch. Then have staff work on his skills. We forget how young 19, 20 and 21 is, there is till a ton of growth to go. What you can't teach is size and natural athletic ability.

[CFAN38]

As is typical of me this time of year I have watched very little college bball and haven't looked at this upcoming draft much but a couple players jump out at me.

Morez Johnson Jr., he is a young soph (20 on draft night) big man (listed at 6'9 250) for Michigan. Despite playing along side two likely NBA draft picks players in combo forward Lendeborg and center Mara he is putting up great numbers. He has also been a productive member of USA FIBA teams in 2024 and 2025. I want to watch more of his complete games but on the surface he looks to me like a lottery talent who is being held back by a lower usage role. Tankathon currently has him mocks to go #27

Richie Saunders, as an older prospect (24 on draft night) he is not the typical prospect I like in the draft but watching him play its easy to see him as a productive rotation player on a winning team. He is listed at 6'5 200lbs, is an NBA level athlete, and plays with a great motor. Tankathon has him projected to go #47 but I see him returning first round value to the right team.

After his game vs Duke Johnson jr is now getting a lot of buzz from nba draft media.  Probably played himself out of the Cs draft range?

[Celtics2021]

As is typical of me this time of year I have watched very little college bball and haven't looked at this upcoming draft much but a couple players jump out at me.

Morez Johnson Jr., he is a young soph (20 on draft night) big man (listed at 6'9 250) for Michigan. Despite playing along side two likely NBA draft picks players in combo forward Lendeborg and center Mara he is putting up great numbers. He has also been a productive member of USA FIBA teams in 2024 and 2025. I want to watch more of his complete games but on the surface he looks to me like a lottery talent who is being held back by a lower usage role. Tankathon currently has him mocks to go #27

Richie Saunders, as an older prospect (24 on draft night) he is not the typical prospect I like in the draft but watching him play its easy to see him as a productive rotation player on a winning team. He is listed at 6'5 200lbs, is an NBA level athlete, and plays with a great motor. Tankathon has him projected to go #47 but I see him returning first round value to the right team.

After his game vs Duke Johnson jr is now getting a lot of buzz from nba draft media.  Probably played himself out of the Cs draft range?

I think he either plays himself out of the Celtics range or gets paid about $3 million to return to Michigan, so I do not think he is an option regardless.

[Celtics4ever]

I liked Morez Johnson Jr's  play against Duke.  Granted Boozer out played him but I thought Boozer who had a good game is not much better than his father except for his assists.  This means he has a better basketball IQ than Dad, but I was not a fan of Carlos Boozer who played a lot under the rim.

Both teams looked rough at time.   But I though the toughness of Johnson would help our team a lot if we could get lucky in the draft.

[Donoghus]

I really don't watch college basketball these days until conference tournaments and March Madness due to time and the fact my college team is an utter dumpster fire.

Is there a projected top 5 guy that screams bust potential more than the others?  Someone to be wary of? Just general curiosity.

[Celtics2021]

I really don't watch college basketball these days until conference tournaments and March Madness due to time and the fact my college team is an utter dumpster fire.

Is there a projected top 5 guy that screams bust potential more than the others?  Someone to be wary of? Just general curiosity.

Darryn Peterson has missed a lot of time for soft tissue injuries that people question if he could play through.  But he has been very good when he has played, which is why he is still picked by many to go #1 overall.  But that injury propensity/lack of willingness to get on the court is the type of thing that could lead him to bust in the NBA if it continues.  I will also say I am unimpressed at the low assist rate and sub-1 assist-to-turnover ratio for someone projected as a combo guard in the NBA.  Definite three-level scorer with the size to be a disruptive defender, however.

[CFAN38]

I really don't watch college basketball these days until conference tournaments and March Madness due to time and the fact my college team is an utter dumpster fire.

Is there a projected top 5 guy that screams bust potential more than the others?  Someone to be wary of? Just general curiosity.

Darryn Peterson has missed a lot of time for soft tissue injuries that people question if he could play through.  But he has been very good when he has played, which is why he is still picked by many to go #1 overall.  But that injury propensity/lack of willingness to get on the court is the type of thing that could lead him to bust in the NBA if it continues.  I will also say I am unimpressed at the low assist rate and sub-1 assist-to-turnover ratio for someone projected as a combo guard in the NBA.  Definite three-level scorer with the size to be a disruptive defender, however.

Agree Peterson's issues give a little pause to an otherwise elite prospect.

Overall the top of this class is impressive. Hard to see a world (injury excluded) where Peterson, Dybantsa, and Boozer are not 20ppg NBA players and multiple time allstars. Peterson and Dybantsa are easier to build around stars where Boozer will likely drive a smart team into a specific Boozer roster construction around him. After those 3 Wilson looks like a really safe pick who worst case carves out a long career as a switchable high energy big man but as the potential to be a lot more.  Pick 5 is where the draft will get interesting with Flemming, Brown Jr, Wagler, and Ament all being good enough to have been 2nd picks in most drafts and the 1st in the weaker ones.   

[hwangjini_1]

Jayden Quaintance is an interesting name to look at.  Originally projected as a top 10 pick, he has barely played in college, now in his sophomore season, because of an ACL injury.  It is unclear how far he will fall, but despite being a sophomore, he does not turn 19 until July so he has a lot of development time left in him.  Someone will probably nab him before the Celtics are on the clock, but if not, this would be a swing for the fences choice.

Medicals will be huge for him, if cleared he is a lottery pick.

i watched his highlights and he was impressive on defense, reminding me very much of Robert Williams to be honest. the stats for him is only 4 games, but they are awful on offense.

zero 3 pointers, 30.8% FREE throw shooting....these are bad. but an interesting late first round pick if he is still around.