The Boston Celtics have a clear offensive identity. Under head coach Joe Mazzulla, the formula is simple: stretch the floor, shoot threes, and never let the defense breathe.
But there’s a hole in that system. A glaring, obvious hole that Brad Stevens must fill this offseason.
The frontcourt can’t shoot.
Neemias Queta is a serviceable starting center. He rebounds. He blocks shots. He plays with energy. But from beyond the arc? He might as well be in a different zip code. He offers zero shooting gravity, which allows defenses to sag off him and clog the paint.
Kristaps Porzingis is a unicorn when healthy — but “when healthy” is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Al Horford is gone. Luke Kornet is a backup.
The Celtics need a stretch big. Not a project. Not a maybe. A player who can space the floor, knock down threes, and fit seamlessly into Mazzulla’s system.
Enter Allen Graves.
The 6-foot-9 forward out of Santa Clara is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft. He’s mocked anywhere between picks 20 and 30. And the Celtics pick at No. 27.
This is not complicated. This is a match made in draft heaven.
Let me break down who Allen Graves is, what he brings to the table, and why he should be wearing Celtic green next season.
Who Is Allen Graves? A Mid-Major Star with NBA Range
Let me start with the basics.
Name: Allen Graves
Age: 19
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 225 pounds
Position: Forward
College: Santa Clara Broncos
Season stats: 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals
Three-point percentage: 41.3% on 2.6 attempts per game
Those shooting numbers jump off the page. 41.3% from three as a 6-foot-9 forward? That’s not a big man who can “occasionally” shoot. That’s a legitimate floor spacer.
Graves played only one season at Santa Clara after redshirting. And what a season it was. He helped lead the Broncos to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1996. He was the breakout star of a program that hadn’t seen the big dance in nearly three decades.
He’s young (19), he’s skilled, and he’s exactly the kind of player the Celtics need.
What Allen Graves Does Well: The Scouting Report
Let me give you a detailed look at Graves’s game.
Shooting (The Main Event):
Graves shot 41.3% from three this season. That’s not a fluke. He has a high release point, good footwork, and the confidence to let it fly. His jumper is a little slow — that’s the one concern — but in an NBA system designed to create open looks, he’ll get his shots off.
He’s most comfortable in pick-and-pop actions. He sets the screen, pops out to the three-point line, and catches and shoots. That’s a perfect fit for a Celtics offense that runs a ton of pick-and-roll with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and whoever is at point guard.
Rebounding:
Graves led Santa Clara in offensive rebounds (2.8 per game). He’s physical. He battles. He doesn’t just stand around and watch. He crashes the glass on both ends. For a Celtics team that has been inconsistent on the boards, that’s a welcome addition.
Defense:
Graves averaged 1.9 steals per game. At 6-foot-9, that’s impressive. He has quick hands, good instincts, and the lateral mobility to guard multiple positions. He can switch onto wings and hold his own. He can guard fours and smaller fives.
He’s not a rim protector — that’s not his game. But he’s a disruptive, high-IQ defender who fits perfectly into a switching scheme.
Passing:
Graves is a willing passer. He’s not a playmaker, but he makes the right read. He kicks out to open shooters. He hits the roller in pick-and-roll. He doesn’t force bad shots. In a ball-movement offense like Boston’s, that matters.
Where He Needs to Improve: The Red Flags
Let me be honest about Graves’s weaknesses.
Athleticism:
Graves is not an explosive athlete. He’s not going to jump over anyone. He’s not going to blow past defenders off the dribble. He’s a skilled, physical player who wins with positioning and strength, not speed or verticality.
In the NBA, where everyone is bigger, faster, and stronger, he’ll have to adjust. His scoring in the post — which worked at Santa Clara — won’t translate immediately. He’ll need to rely more on his jumper and his basketball IQ.
Mid-Major Competition:
This is the biggest question mark. Graves played against mid-major competition. The athletes he faced at Santa Clara are not the same as the athletes he’ll face in the NBA.
Will his shooting translate? Probably. Shooting is shooting. But will his rebounding? His defense? His ability to score in the paint? Those are open questions.
Slow Release:
His three-point shot is effective, but it’s not quick. In the NBA, closeouts are faster. Defenders are longer. He’ll need to speed up his release or learn to shoot over contests.
Upside vs. Floor:
Graves is a “high-floor, low-ceiling” prospect. He’s not going to be an All-Star. He’s likely a role player — a rotation big who can shoot, rebound, and defend. That’s valuable, but it’s not franchise-altering.
The Horford Comparison: Why the Fit Is Perfect
Let me address the comparison that everyone is going to make.
Al Horford was a 6-foot-9 big man who could shoot, pass, and defend. He was the perfect glue guy for the Celtics’ system. He spaced the floor, made the right plays, and never complained about his role.
Allen Graves is not Al Horford. He’s 19. Horford was a four-time All-Star. Graves might never make one.
But the role that Horford played — the stretch big who can shoot threes, guard multiple positions, and keep the offense flowing — that’s exactly what Graves can become.
The Celtics have been searching for that player since Horford left last offseason. They tried Porzingis (when healthy). They tried Queta (can’t shoot). They tried Kornet (not a threat).
Graves fits the profile. He’s a modern NBA big. He spaces the floor. He plays defense. He makes the extra pass.
He’s not Horford. But he could be the next best thing.
The Celtics’ Draft History: Why the Late First Round Is Their Sweet Spot
Let me talk about Boston’s recent draft success.
Jordan Walsh: Selected in the late first round. Developed in the G-League. Now a rotation player.
Baylor Scheierman: Selected in the late first round. Developed in the G-League. Now a contributor.
Payton Pritchard: Selected in the late first round. Became a fan favorite and a key bench piece.
The Celtics have a formula: draft a high-IQ, skilled player in the late first round, develop him in the G-League, and integrate him slowly into the rotation.
That formula has worked.
Graves fits that profile perfectly. He’s not ready to start on Day 1. But he doesn’t need to be. The Celtics have Queta, Porzingis (if healthy), and Kornet. They can bring Graves along slowly.
Let him play 20-30 games in the G-League. Let him work on his release, his strength, his defensive positioning. Then, by the end of the season, he could be a contributor off the bench.
That’s the Celtics’ way. And it works.
The Mock Draft Consensus: Graves Is in Boston’s Range
Let me show you where the experts have Graves landing.
Most mock drafts have Graves going between picks 20 and 30. Some have him at 22 to the Brooklyn Nets. Others have him at 25 to the Houston Rockets. A few have him falling to 29 or 30.
The Celtics pick at 27. That’s right in his range.
If Graves is available at 27, Brad Stevens should sprint to the podium. Not walk. Sprint.
There are other stretch bigs in this draft. There are other forwards. But few have Graves’s combination of shooting, size, and defensive versatility.
What the Celtics Would Be Getting: A 10-Year Rotation Big
Let me project Graves’s career arc.
Year 1 (2026-27): Mostly G-League. Spot minutes with the big club. Work on his body and his shot. Learn the system.
Year 2 (2027-28): Rotation minutes. 12-15 per game. He’s the third big off the bench. He spaces the floor. He doesn’t hurt you defensively.
Year 3 (2028-29): Legitimate rotation player. 18-20 minutes per game. He’s a reliable shooter. He can guard fours and some fives. He’s a plus player on a winning team.
Years 4-10: He’s a starter or a high-end backup. He’s not a star, but he’s a player every contender needs. A 6-foot-9 forward who shoots 38% from three, rebounds, and defends.
That’s the ceiling. It’s not an All-Star ceiling. But it’s a valuable ceiling.
The Verdict: Brad Stevens Should Pull the Trigger
Here’s my honest take.
The Boston Celtics have a clear need: a stretch big who can space the floor and defend multiple positions.
Allen Graves is that player.
He’s not a project. He’s not a reach at No. 27. He’s a legitimate first-round talent who fits Boston’s system perfectly.
The concerns about his athleticism and his mid-major competition are real. But they’re also overblown. Shooting translates. Basketball IQ translates. Defense translates.
Graves has all three.
The Celtics have a formula for developing late-first-round picks. They have a need at his position. They have a system that would maximize his skills.
This is not complicated.
If Allen Graves is available at No. 27, the Celtics should draft him. Not because he’s a superstar. Because he’s exactly what they need.
One thing’s certain: The Celtics are going to draft a stretch big in the first round. And if they’re smart, that big will be Allen Graves.