Celtics
The Celtics hold the 28th and 32nd overall picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Celtics’ offseason is a couple of weeks old, but we’re now in the month when moves start to happen around the NBA.
Of course, the NBA Draft is one of the tentpole events of the offseason. That’ll take place later in June, with Round 1 being held on Wednesday, June 25. The second round will be held a day later.
Boston holds two picks in this year’s draft, the No. 28 (first round) and No. 32 (second round) overall picks. As the Celtics hold a late first-round pick and an early second-round pick, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens seems to be bracing for lesser options than what a team might usually have with one of those picks.
“This year’s draft class, more than any ever, has been affected by the NIL and the new pay-for-play,” Stevens recently told NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg. “The money can be higher in some of these schools than the bottom of the 20s in the draft. Good for them.”
Stevens’s assessment might have been made accurate when 50 early entrants opted to withdraw their names from the 2025 NBA Draft, several of whom were projected to be late first-round picks.
Still, the Celtics will have plenty of options when they’re on the clock in the 2025 NBA Draft. Here’s who experts have them taking as we head into draft month.
Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor: Arkansas F Adou Thiero (Round 1), Real Madrid (Spain) G/F Hugo Gonzalez (Round 2)
Thiero had a breakout junior season after following head coach John Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, showcasing athleticism along the perimeter. He also shot well from the field, making 54.5 percent of his shots, but only made 25.6 percent of his 3-pointers as he averaged 1.6 attempts per game.
O’Connor thinks the Celtics can be a good landing spot for Thiero due to their recent success at developing shooters.
“Thiero is a slasher with a jacked frame and an explosive first step, but he has severe limitations on offense as a shooter,” O’Connor wrote. “If he’s able to figure out the shot, then his length and versatility would make him a classic 3-and-D role player. The Celtics have had good success at improving shooters, so he’d be a fair bet at this spot, considering his other strengths are tailor-made for their system.”
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As for Gonzalez, the 19-year-old has been a role player for one of Europe’s top club teams over the last few years. Considering his role and the fact that he’s playing with older professionals, Gonzalez’s stats don’t jump out the same way compared to other prospects (5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game in league play this season).
O’Connor noted, though, that Gonzalez’s minutes have risen recently, indicating he’s just scratching the surface of what he can be.
“He is a high-motor wing with great defensive tools and a slashing style on offense,” O’Connor wrote. “If his jumper and handle develop, he could be a versatile two-way starter.”
Wolf was one of the top big men in the nation this past season, averaging 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game at Michigan after emerging as a standout player at Yale during the 2023-24 season.
Wolf made 49.7 percent of his shots from the field and 33.6 percent of his 3-pointers. Wasserman compared him to former Celtics big Kelly Olynyk, believing that the Wolverine product grew as a shooter this season.
“Though his 3-point numbers might not indicate shooting improvement, he added a pull-up and step-back to his repertoire this year,” Wasserman wrote. “A 7-footer who made 21 dribble jumpers, served as Michigan’s lead playmaker and still averaged 9.7 boards and 1.4 blocks is bound to entice a number of teams.”
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Kalkbrenner, meanwhile, was a teammate of Celtics wing Baylor Scheierman for multiple seasons at Creighton. The 7-1 center made a name for himself on the defensive end, becoming the first player since Patrick Ewing to win four straight Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards.
As Kalkbrenner averaged over 2.5 blocks per game (2.7) for the third time in his career in 2024-25, he also grew as a scorer. He averaged 19.2 points per game this past season. Wasserman wonders if Kalkbrenner will be able to make some of the shots he made this past season at the professional level.
“The upside with Kalkbrenner isn’t overly exciting unless that three-point shot becomes a regular weapon at the next level,” Wasserman wrote. “Teams will be evaluating his jumper closely in workout settings in May and June. But 7’1” size, a refined inside game and defensive presence create a high floor that is attractive for a likely second-round pick.”
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ESPN: Le Mans (France) F Noah Penda (Round 1), Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) G Ben Saraf (Round 2)
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have the Celtics selecting two international players. Woo likes the flexibility that drafting Pendacould give the Celtics as they could draft and stash him or allow him to potentially grow with Jayson Tatum set to miss much (if not all) of the 2025-26 season.
“Penda’s strong feel for the game and two-way impact, after a productive and well-rounded season in France, would make him an interesting sleeper target in this part of the draft,” Woo wrote. “He offers excellent role-player traits as a smart decision-maker and defensive playmaker if he can make enough shots to earn NBA minutes. It remains to be seen what his availability will be for stateside workouts, with the Pro A season still ongoing.”
Similar to Gonzalez, the 20-year-old Penda is playing in one of Europe’s top leagues alongside professionals older than he is. But, he’s gotten more minutes than Gonzalez, averaging 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals in 26.9 minutes per game.
As for Saraf, he just turned 19 in April. He’s averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists per game this season.
NBC Sports: Le Mans F Noah Penda (Round 1)
NBC Sports also has the Celtics taking Penda with their first-round pick. It likes the 6-6 forward’s versatility, believing he could be a good fit in Boston due to Tatum’s situation.
“Penda, who can play either forward position, offers defensive versatility and a solid basketball IQ,” Raphielle Johnson wrote. His shooting does need to improve, but Boston should have the options around him to help compensate for that issue.”
While Penda’s defense seems to be well-regarded, he isn’t too great of a shooter. He’s shooting 44 percent from the field this season, but has made just 30.4 percent of his 3-pointers and 69.3 percent of his free throws.
USA Today: Florida G Walter Clayton
USA Today has the Celtics nabbing the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four with their first-round pick. Clayton arguably had one of the most electrifying runs for an individual player in the NCAA Tournament in recent years, averaging 22.3 points per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from deep over the six-game run.
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Clayton’s overall numbers for the season weren’t as strong, but they were still pretty good. The 6-3 guard averaged 18.3 points and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from deep.
“Has range on 3-point shots and can shoot off the dribble or pass but needs to improve as a playmaker and defender,” USA Today wrote in its assessment of Clayton.
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