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Brad Stevens faces some tough decisions on the future of the Boston Celtics.
The Boston Celtics enter the 2025 NBA Draft armed with picks 28 and 32—and a roster at a crossroads. With superstar Jayson Tatum working his way back and several key veterans facing uncertain futures, Brad Stevens faces his most crucial draft night to date. Here are five talents that he should target, whether through Boston’s own picks, or via trade.
1. Thomas Sorber (Georgetown, C, 6’10”, 253 lbs)
Player Comparison: Jonas Valanciunas, Kevon Looney, Jusuf Nurkić
College Season: Led Georgetown in rebounds (8.5 RPG) and blocks (2.0 BPG) while shooting an efficient 53% from the field. Named to the Big East All-Freshman Team under Coach Ed Cooley’s system.
Roster Fit: Following the mold of recent Celtics big men like Al Horford and Robert Williams III, Sorber brings that classic Boston big man grit. His physicality in the paint, masterful screen-setting, and soft touch as a roller could give the C’s that interior presence they’ve been missing.
2. Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton, C, 7’1″, 257 lbs)
Player Comparison: Jakob Poeltl, Walker Kessler, Luke Kornet
College Season: Dominated as a senior, averaging 19.2 PPG and 8.7 RPG. Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth straight season.
Roster Fit: With Kristaps Porzingis’ availability in question and Father Time catching up to Al Horford, Kalkbrenner could be the defensive anchor Boston covets. His elite rim protection, efficient scoring, and developing outside touch make him an ideal fit for a defense-first squad that values two-way versatility. Having paired with current Celtic Baylor Scheierman for two seasons at Creighton, their dynamic pick-and-roll combination could be rekindled in Boston, providing a bench tandem with proven chemistry.
3. Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida, Guard, 6’2″, 199 lbs)
Player Comparison: Jamal Murray, CJ McCollum
College Season: Florida’s leading scorer at 18.3 PPG, shot 38% from three-point range. Led the Gators to the NCAA Championship with several clutch performances, and named Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Roster Fit: With the Celtics’ guard rotation potentially shifting, Clayton brings championship DNA and instant offense. His pick-and-roll mastery and knockdown shooting could energize Boston’s bench, while his composure mirrors exactly what Stevens seeks in his guards.
4. Maxime Raynaud (Stanford, C, 7’1″, 237 lbs)
Player Comparison: Brook Lopez, Rasheed Wallace
College Season: Breakout junior year saw him average 15.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG. Shot 37% from three-point range, showcasing his development as a modern stretch big.
Roster Fit: Raynaud is the modern big Boston’s second unit craves—combining size with shooting touch and playmaking flair. His floor-spacing would create driving lanes for the Jays, while his passing could unlock Joe Mazzulla’s five-out sets.
5. Cedric Coward (Guard, Washington State/Duke, 6’7″, 225 lbs)
Player Comparison: Kawhi Leonard “lite”, Jerami Grant, Ayo Dosunmu
College Season: His season was cut short, but Coward averaged an impressive 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 6 games for Washington State. He’s a versatile two-way player, particularly efficient from three, averaging 39% across the last three seasons.
Roster Fit: The Celtics would likely have to trade up for Coward—who is now projected in the late lottery after an impressive combine. But the move could be worth it. Coward represents the archetypal Celtics wing—strong, defensively versatile, and capable of contributing without needing plays called for him. With Sam Hauser potentially on the move, Coward’s combination of defense and shooting could provide immediate value to Boston’s rotation.
Honorable Mentions for the Celtics
Rasheer Fleming (Forward, Saint Joseph’s)
Comparison: Larry Nance Jr., Brandon Bass
College Season: 14.7 PTS, 8.5 REB, 1.3 AST
Tyrese Proctor (Guard, Duke)
Comparison: Tyus Jones, Evan Fournier
College Season: 12.4 PTS, 3 REB, 2.2 AST
Danny Wolf (Michigan, C)
Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu, Kelly Olynyk
College Season: 13.2 PTS, 9.7 REB, 3.6 AST
What Will the Celtics Do?
Each prospect offers Boston a chance to reload while retooling—whether it’s shoring up the frontcourt foundation, adding backcourt firepower, or finding the next great Celtic wing. Kalkbrenner, Sorber, and Raynaud present three paths to solidifying the paint, Clayton brings scoring to the guard rotation, and Coward perfectly fits that energy-and-defense role that’s powered so many Boston playoff runs.
With two picks in this loaded draft class, expect Stevens and company to target versatility, upside, and immediate impact—the Boston way.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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