What will the Boston Celtics do at the 2026 NBA draft?

The Boston Celtics had an odd season. If from the start of the season the fanbase was told that they would be the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and Jayson Tatum would return and look close to his old self already after his Achilles injury, most would’ve taken that gladly.

But with the loss to Philadelphia in 7 games now looming large and casting a shadow over the season, Boston and Joe Mazzulla have a lot of questions to answer. The off-season plan will have to plug some holes in the roster, as well as decide on whether to move on from the Tatum-Brown combination, but first comes the draft.

The Boston Celtics have two picks in this draft, in the first and second round. Should they make selections in a stacked draft? Should they trade up? Should they package those picks in a trade?

Boston’s next season is a huge moment, as it could be the last chance for Boston to be in contention for a Championship with this current roster. Currently, Polymarket gives them a 12% chance of winning next year’s chip. If you’re looking for some fun ways to enjoy next season’s NBA, why not check out prediction markets and find out about Polymarket's 1 million+ user waitlist through Action Network.

Who could Boston pick in the 2026 NBA draft?

The Boston Celtics currently hold the #27 and #40 picks in this year’s draft. Boston’s main priority if they are going to keep their picks, and specifically if they’re not trading away either Tatum or Brown, is depth pieces, both in their frontcourt and backcourt.

Boston have had a good record on their recent draft performances, such as the draft of Hugo Gonzalez late in the first round last year, so they may well trust their gut and proceed with some draft selections.

Frontcourt options projected to go at the end of the first round include Koa Peat, Allen Graves, or Chris Cenac Jr.. If they wanted to trade up, they could even jump towards the middle of the first round, where there’s plenty of talented backcourt options that could contribute for a side like Boston.

Should the Boston Celtics trade away their draft picks?

There’s a chance that the Boston Celtics trade away their picks, either to trade up in the current draft, or as part of a bigger package. The most obvious option for a trade that could include these picks, packaged with other assets and players, would be for Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. 

The Celtics would have to compete with multiple other teams, including most notably the Miami Heat. They also have some serious luxury tax problems, which may motivate them to build through the draft rather than make some big offseason moves. 

Any trade for Antetokounmpo would certainly require Jaylen Brown to go the other way, plus a fair amount of Boston’s depth, so it would be a big swing. If there was a trade to happen this offseason, it would most likely require the trading of their 2026 first round pick.