Celtics
The Celtics currently have the No. 30 and No. 54 picks.
Brad Stevens speaks at a press conference. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
The championship parade is over and the season is history, but the NBA Draft is almost here to help fill that brief void.
Here are five things to know ahead of this year’s draft.
The basics
The first round of the NBA Draft will take place on Wednesday, June 26 at 8 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
The second round will take place on Thursday, June 27 at 4 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Celtics currently have the No. 30 overall pick on Wednesday and the No. 54 overall pick on Thursday.
Celtics History
The Celtics could end up trading their first-round pick. But if they don’t, it will be their first first-round selection since they chose Aaron Nesmith (No. 14) and Payton Pritchard (No. 26) in 2020.
Boston selected Juhann Begarin in the second round and stashed him in 2021, selected JD Davison in 2022, selected Julian Phillips and traded him in 2023.
The Celtics have had success in the late first round in recent years with Pritchard, Grant Williams and Robert Williams over the last six seasons.
They selected Desmond Bane with the No. 30 pick and traded him to the Grizzlies in 2020.
Other No. 30 picks in franchise history include JR Giddens in 2008, Jeff Judkins in 1978 and Dan Swartz in 1956.
Potential Celtics Matchups
USA today The Celtics take Baylor Scheierman, a smooth-shooting 6-foot-6 left-hander from Creighton, with the No. 30 pick. Scheierman averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Bluejays last year. last season, and his versatility is what really sets him apart.
According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo: “He’s not expected to move past Boston at No. 30 overall and he’s already had a workout with the Celtics.”
CBS Sports also has the Celtics selecting Scheierman.
Athleticism Scheierman took an earlier pick to the Jazz and the Celtics selected 6-foot-9 big man Tyler Smith at No. 30. Smith, 19, averaged 13.7 points and 5.1 rebounds with the G League Ignite.
“It will take time for him to continue to develop in this direction, and I would not be sure to put him on an NBA court from day one,” Sam Vecenie wrote. But Boston could move him forward slowly, and his shooting would be valuable to their style of play as a frontcourt player.
NBADraft.net has the Celtics selecting Pacôme Dadiet, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound French forward, at 30th overall. Dadiet would likely be a draft and reserve pick, given that the Celtics don’t have any glaring holes. on the list.
The site has Boston taking Aden Bona, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound center from UCLA, No. 54 overall.
The best possible choices
The Hawks, Wizards, Rockets, Spurs and Pistons have the top five picks.
This year’s draft class is, on paper, worse than any in recent memory. For starters, there is no transcendent player like Victor Wembanyama, but the depth isn’t there either.
Zaccharie Risacher (6-9, 200, F, France), Alexandre Sarr (7-1, 225, C, France), Reed Sheppard (6-3, 180, G, Kentucky), Stephon Castle (6-7, 210 , G, UConn), Matas Buzelis (6-10, 195, F, G League) and Donovan Clingan (7-3, 280, C, UConn), among others, are all in the running to be among the top five picks. .
Castle and Clingan, who helped UConn win a title, are two names local fans should keep an eye on.
Other local links
Outside of the UConn guys, there are a few other names local fans may recognize.
Devin Carter (6-3, 195, G) recently finished a stellar career at Providence College and is expected to go in the first round.
Marquette product Tyler Kolek, a shifty 6-foot-2, 195-pound point guard from Cumberland, Rhode Island, could be chosen late in the first round.
Kyle Filipowski, a 7-footer from Wilbraham & Monson Academy, is also expected to go late in the first round.
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