The Boston Celtics, a team that has often found itself among the NBA's elite, consistently faces the challenge of picking later in the NBA Draft. This year was no exception, as they held the 27th overall pick despite a season that saw them exit early in the playoffs.
With this pick, the Celtics selected Chris Cenac Jr. from Houston, followed by Dillon Mitchell from St. John's, chosen 15 picks later.
Before the draft kicked off, Celtics Assistant General Manager Dave Lewin shared insights into the team's draft strategy. Speaking with team coverage Manager Taylor Snow, Lewin highlighted the challenges and opportunities of drafting late in the first round.
"When you're picking in the late 20s, the top-tier talents are usually off the board," Lewin explained. "But there’s still a wealth of talent available.
The key is identifying players with the right mindset and competitive character, which can be the deciding factor."
Lewin referenced recent successful picks like Baylor Scheierman, Payton Pritchard, and Hugo Gonzalez, emphasizing the team's focus on selecting players who are team-oriented and comfortable playing off the ball. This approach is a hallmark of the Celtics' draft philosophy, aiming to find players who can seamlessly integrate into their system.
The selection process, according to Lewin, involves a comprehensive evaluation by Brad Stevens and the rest of the coaching staff. "We ensure that we’ve observed a player in various settings," Lewin noted. "It’s crucial to talk to those who have coached and worked with the player to understand who they are as a basketball player and how they’ve navigated different challenges throughout their career."
Lewin stressed the importance of understanding a player's motivations and character. "We want to know what drives them, what makes them tick," he said. This thorough examination helps the Celtics identify players who not only have the skills but also the character to thrive in their organization.
In Other News...
Celtics May Have A Real Opening To Fix Their Biggest Need
The Celtics still have a familiar offseason problem hanging over them: finding the kind of frontcourt help that can raise the ceiling without forcing them to reinvent the roster. NBA insider Michael Scotto reported that Denver could be open to bigger changes this summer, and Boston has already been linked to a pair of Nuggets forwards who would fit different needs for a team trying to stay versatile at the top of the East. Cam Johnson would bring size and spacing, while Aaron Gordon offers the sturdier, more physical option that teams covet when the games get tighter.
Johnsons appeal is obvious because of his expiring contract and the kind of production that has made him one of the more movable names on the market, especially with several teams circling. Gordon, meanwhile, would give Boston a more natural answer at power forward and could even let Jayson Tatum slide back to small forward, which is the type of lineup flexibility the Celtics have been chasing. Whether Denver is actually willing to move either one is the part still worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Suddenly Loom Over One Celtics Shooting Threat After Giannis Move
Miamis trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo has shifted the conversation in South Florida from splashy star power to the far less glamorous business of filling out a roster. For a team that already has to think carefully about shooting around its new centerpiece, the search for help on the perimeter suddenly matters a lot more, especially with free agency approaching and the Heat needing more than just another name to keep the offense balanced.
Anfernee Simons fits the type of scoring and spacing Miami is likely to be chasing, and the possibility of a bigger role there makes him one of the more intriguing Celtics-related names to watch. If the Heat cannot bring back Norm Powell, the pressure to find another guard only grows, and Bostons view of the market could end up intersecting with Miamis roster math in a way that puts Simons squarely in the middle of it. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Rumors Just Reignited A Familiar Frontcourt Debate
Bostons frontcourt conversation has quickly turned from a short-term cleanup job into a familiar roster debate, with the club apparently weighing how to use its mid-level exception to bolster the middle of the floor. The appeal is obvious: one option brings the kind of steady, low-maintenance veteran presence teams trust, while the other offers a defensive impact that can change the tone of a game when he is on the court.
For the Celtics, the bigger question is less about whether help is needed and more about what kind of help makes the most sense. Boston watched its center depth get stripped down last season, then saw the position become a recurring issue when the games tightened up in the playoffs, so any move here will say a lot about how the team wants to balance reliability, health and upside moving forward. [Read more 🡒]