Celtics 2026 Draft picks

[slamtheking]

Celtics 2026 Draft picks

I used to put this out when the team had a plethora of picks to track but went on a hiatus the last 2 years.  Since we have a few this year, thought I'd put this out there again for this season.

Standings as of 1/21/26

Boston Pick #25
                   Games Behind    Current Wins     Games Left    Last 10
Minnesota              ---                      27                    17                6-4
Phoenix                 ---                      27                     17               7-3
LA Lakers              ---                      26                     16                5-5
Boston                ---                      26                     16                6-4
Houston               +0.5                    26                     15                5-5
Denver               +1.5                      29                     15               6-4


-> C's are in a clump with several other teams where this pick could swing as low as #27 if they get hot or as low as #20 if they cool off or have an injury to JB, White or Q.  Still too early to see which way this will go but the teams they're clumped with do figure to get back injured players.  (No, I'm not counting Tatum yet for the C's.)

The second rounders are looking good in terms of where they're positioned.  The NO might slide down to 33 as a worst case and the Mil pick may worsen a bit but both should end up in a spot for the C's to get a crack at a player that might turn into something.  With the C's having a sparsity of upcoming picks they really need to hit on these.

Second Round Pick
NO - #31   (most favorable of Minn, NO, NH or Portland)
Mil - #39  (most favorable of Orl, Det or Mil)

[Celtics2021]

I will be surprised if we have more than one of these picks two weeks from now.  But it is fun having a couple decent pics to track.

(Also, there is a typo in the four teams that includes the New Orleans pick.  NH should be NY.)

[slamtheking]

I will be surprised if we have more than one of these picks two weeks from now.  But it is fun having a couple decent pics to track.

certainly possible.  if we move any I would anticipate the second rounder we're likely to get from Mil.  Brad's moves the past few years to accrue as many second rounders as possible has still left us with barely any after this year -- including a 4 year stretch after this draft without any second rounders.  it's a big reason I'm really against the trade ideas being thrown about with C's sending out multiple draft picks for players that won't make us clear title favorites - no ability to get good, cheap talent to stock the roster.

[Roy H.]

I can't wait to see what future #2s we will get by trading them, haha.

[Celtics2021]

I can't wait to see what future #2s we will get by trading them, haha.

That is highly likely to occur on draft night if we do keep them.  We have 11 players under contract for next year, and they are our top 11 in minutes this year except swapping out Simons for Tatum.  Between the MLE, bringing back Simons, or using the KP TPE that is 12 players already, so there is room for one or at most two picks on the roster next year.  Given the paucity of future picks in upcoming seasons (just three picks total from 2027-2030), trading for future picks would be sensible if we head into draft night with three picks and our current roster.

[slamtheking]

I can't wait to see what future #2s we will get by trading them, haha.

That is highly likely to occur on draft night if we do keep them.  We have 11 players under contract for next year, and they are our top 11 in minutes this year except swapping out Simons for Tatum.  Between the MLE, bringing back Simons, or using the KP TPE that is 12 players already, so there is room for one or at most two picks on the roster next year.  Given the paucity of future picks in upcoming seasons (just three picks total from 2027-2030), trading for future picks would be sensible if we head into draft night with three picks and our current roster.

I think a couple of things could happen in that regard.
1. move a player with the late second rounder to get a serviceable big that can defend and rebound.  Hopefully the player we move is Boucher or Tillman and not someone we actually can use.  I doubt that will happen but it's Brad so you never know.
2. Brad starts his annual multitude of trade-backs to accrue a bunch of second rounders on draft day.  This is what I think is most likely.  The question is which of the 3 picks he does that with if not all of them.  We aren't so loaded with talent that we can afford to go without an addition from the draft so I'd hope he'd use the first rounder on a good prospect.  That NO pick at the top of the second is gold which I'd hope he'd use but I could see it as the starting point for his constant trading back to get as many seconds as he can.  If he does use this pick in that manner, I would hope to see at least 5 future seconds picked up.  My preference would be to use this pick to get the best player available that isn't guaranteed first-round money. 
That other second rounder would seem to be the prime option for tradebacks to accumulate more future seconds although I think Brad would only be able to parlay it into possibly 3 future picks

[jambr380]

I can't wait to see what future #2s we will get by trading them, haha.

The way Brad deals 2nds away, we are going to need him to do just that to give us future flexibility. We seemingly can never have enough 2nds.

I knew about NOP pick, but I completely forgot about the MIL pick. I see him turning those two into 5, 6, maybe 7 future 2nds. It gets me all hot and heavy just thinking about it

[CFAN38]

I can't wait to see what future #2s we will get by trading them, haha.

That is highly likely to occur on draft night if we do keep them.  We have 11 players under contract for next year, and they are our top 11 in minutes this year except swapping out Simons for Tatum.  Between the MLE, bringing back Simons, or using the KP TPE that is 12 players already, so there is room for one or at most two picks on the roster next year.  Given the paucity of future picks in upcoming seasons (just three picks total from 2027-2030), trading for future picks would be sensible if we head into draft night with three picks and our current roster.

I think a couple of things could happen in that regard.
1. move a player with the late second rounder to get a serviceable big that can defend and rebound.  Hopefully the player we move is Boucher or Tillman and not someone we actually can use.  I doubt that will happen but it's Brad so you never know.
2. Brad starts his annual multitude of trade-backs to accrue a bunch of second rounders on draft day.  This is what I think is most likely.  The question is which of the 3 picks he does that with if not all of them.  We aren't so loaded with talent that we can afford to go without an addition from the draft so I'd hope he'd use the first rounder on a good prospect.  That NO pick at the top of the second is gold which I'd hope he'd use but I could see it as the starting point for his constant trading back to get as many seconds as he can.  If he does use this pick in that manner, I would hope to see at least 5 future seconds picked up.  My preference would be to use this pick to get the best player available that isn't guaranteed first-round money. 
That other second rounder would seem to be the prime option for tradebacks to accumulate more future seconds although I think Brad would only be able to parlay it into possibly 3 future picks

My prediction is this years 1st gets moved at the deadline in a deal to reinforce big man depth, the Cs draft 1 player in the second round and trade the other second round pick for 2 future 2nds.

As I start to read more into this draft and watch some college games I really like some players who are projected in the 25-35 range.

[SHAQATTACK]

Are we counting unborn chickens

[Vermont Green]

BOS - #25   (or where ever it ends up)
NOP - #31   (most favorable of Minn, NO, NH or Portland)
MIL - #39    (most favorable of Orl, Det or Mil)

These are all decent enough picks.  I agree that any and all will be very much in play for trades.  For example, Simons + BOS#1 is a pretty nice package to shop around.  And if someone falls in love with our 2nd round picks, why not trade them for multiple future picks.  None of these picks is likely to yield a player that will help the team contend for a title in the immediate term.  If they can be part of a trade for a player that can help immediately, that is the best option, in my view.  And if not, it is good to accumulate additional future value.

[Phantom255x]

I'm fine dangling that Pelicans 2nd rounder + a future second rounder for a backup big like Day'Ron Sharpe or Jalen Smith.

And I'm usually someone who likes hoarding picks or waiting for a bigger splash in the offseason, but I do think in this particular East the C's can make a run when Tatum comes back. A backup big man that can grab some boards is needed though.