The Boston Celtics are picking much earlier than they expected. That’s what happens when a team that won 56 games and held a 3-1 playoff lead collapses in the first round. The silver lining? The No. 27 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is a lot more valuable than the No. 30 pick they would have had if they’d made a deeper run.
And according to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, the Celtics have their eyes on a player who could fill a specific, glaring need: a stretch big man who can space the floor, protect the rim, and provide depth behind Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
That player is Henri Veesaar, a 7-foot center from North Carolina who just shot 42.6% from three-point range and averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his final college season.
Let’s stop right there. A 7-footer who shoots over 42% from deep? Who averaged a double-double for most of the season? Who has the agility to defend in space and the bounce to protect the rim?
That sounds like a lottery pick. But Veesaar is projected to go in the late first round – possibly all the way down to Boston at No. 27.
Why the disconnect? Because Veesaar’s path to the NBA has been unconventional. He played four seasons of college basketball, but only two of them were active. He redshirted in 2023-24. He transferred from Arizona to North Carolina for his final season. He’s 22 years old – older than most prospects, which scares some teams away.
But for the Celtics, his age might be a feature, not a bug. Boston needs contributors now, not projects. Veesaar is ready to play.
Let’s break down why Veesaar is the perfect fit for the Celtics, what he would bring to the bench, and why replacing Luka Garza with a 7-foot sharpshooter could be the quiet move that pays huge dividends in 2026-27.
The Celtics’ Big Man Problem: Depth and Shooting
Let’s start with Boston’s current frontcourt situation.
Al Horford is 40 years old. Yes, 40. He’s still effective in spurts, but he can’t play 30 minutes a night anymore. Father Time remains undefeated.
Kristaps Porzingis is a unicorn when healthy – a 7-foot-3 shooter who can block shots and stretch the floor. But “when healthy” is the operative phrase. Porzingis has missed significant time in each of the last three seasons. The Celtics cannot rely on him for 82 games.
Nikola Vučević is a free agent. The veteran big man played well for Boston last season, but he’s 35 years old and looking for one last payday. The Celtics might not be able to afford him.
Luke Kornet is a serviceable backup, but he’s not a scorer. He’s not a floor-spacer. He’s a lunch-pail big who does the dirty work.
Luka Garza has shown flashes, but as Buckley noted, he hasn’t proven capable of handling a consistent rotation role. He’s a fan favorite, but he’s not a difference-maker.
The Celtics need a big man who can:
Space the floor (shoot threes)
Protect the rim
Rebound
Play within the system
Be ready to contribute immediately
Enter Henri Veesaar.
Who Is Henri Veesaar? The Late-Blooming 7-Footer
Let’s talk about the player behind the numbers.
Veesaar was born in Estonia – a country better known for producing giant athletes than basketball superstars. He came to the United States to play college basketball, first at Arizona, then at North Carolina.
His career stats are solid but unspectacular: 9.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over 97 collegiate games. But that’s misleading. Veesaar was a late bloomer. He didn’t play much at Arizona, buried behind other frontcourt talents. His transfer to North Carolina unlocked something.
In his final season with the Tar Heels, Veesaar exploded:
17.0 points per game
8.7 rebounds per game
2.1 assists per game
42.6% from three-point range
31 games played
That’s not a role player. That’s a star. And he did it against ACC competition – one of the best conferences in college basketball.
Scouts have questions, of course. Veesaar is 22, which is old for a draft prospect. His foot speed is average. He’s not going to guard quick wings on the perimeter. But at 7 feet with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he doesn’t need to.
What he does well: shoot, pass, move without the ball, protect the rim, and play with high basketball IQ.
What he doesn’t do well: create his own shot off the dribble, guard in space, dominate the glass against physical centers.
In other words, he’s a perfect modern stretch big. And he’s available at No. 27.
The Zach Buckley Mock Draft: Why the Celtics Are the Perfect Fit
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report knows what he’s talking about. He’s been covering the draft for years. And his explanation for why Veesaar fits Boston is spot-on.
“The Celtics prefer filling the floor with shooting threats. Their offense can be especially hard to handle when they deploy a stretch big. But they might need new candidates for the role, since Nikola Vučević is a free agent. Luka Garza hasn’t proven capable of handling a consistent rotation role.”
That’s it in a nutshell. The Celtics’ offense is built on spacing. When they have five shooters on the floor, they’re nearly impossible to defend. But that requires a center who can shoot – a player who can pull opposing bigs away from the rim.
Horford can do it, but he’s 40. Porzingis can do it, but he’s injury-prone. Vučević might leave. Garza hasn’t proven he can handle the job.
Veesaar can do it. And he can do it right away.
The Luka Garza Comparison: An Upgrade Across the Board
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a knock on Luka Garza. Garza is a beloved figure in Boston. He works hard. He’s a fan favorite. He has moments where he looks like an NBA player.
But the numbers don’t lie.
Luka Garza (2025-26 season):
Limited minutes
Inconsistent playing time
Never established a reliable role
Career 34% three-point shooter in the NBA (on low volume)
Henri Veesaar (college final season):
17 points, 8.7 rebounds
42.6% from three on high volume
7 feet tall
22 years old
Veesaar is a direct upgrade. He’s bigger, he’s a better shooter, he’s more athletic, and he has more upside. He could step into Garza’s role on day one and immediately make the Celtics’ second unit more dangerous.
What Veesaar Would Bring to Boston
Let’s get specific about how Veesaar would fit into the Celtics’ rotation.
Spacing. With Veesaar on the floor, defenses cannot sag into the paint. They have to respect his three-point shot. That opens driving lanes for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White.
Pick-and-pop threat. Imagine Veesaar setting a screen for Tatum, then popping to the three-point line. Tatum draws two defenders. Veesaar is wide open. That’s an automatic bucket if the defense doesn’t rotate.
Rim protection. Veesaar averaged 1.5 blocks per game in his final college season. He’s not a shot-blocking savant, but he’s long and he has good timing. He can alter shots at the rim.
High-post passing. Veesaar is a smart passer. He can operate from the high post, find cutters, and keep the offense moving. That’s crucial in Joe Mazzulla’s system, which emphasizes ball movement.
Rebounding. 8.7 rebounds per game in the ACC is no joke. Veesaar has good instincts on the glass. He can help Boston control the boards when Porzingis or Horford is resting.
The Age Question: Why Being 22 Is Actually a Good Thing
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Veesaar is 22 years old. Most draft prospects are 19 or 20. Some NBA teams will knock him for that. They’ll say his upside is limited. They’ll say he is who he is.
But for the Celtics, his age is a feature, not a bug.
Boston doesn’t need a project. They don’t have time to wait three years for a 19-year-old to develop. They need someone who can contribute now – someone who can step into the rotation as a rookie and play meaningful minutes.
Veesaar is that player. He’s physically mature. He’s emotionally mature. He’s been through the grind of college basketball for four years. He knows how to play within a system. He’s not going to be overwhelmed by the NBA game.
The Celtics are in win-now mode. They have Tatum and Brown in their primes. They need players who can help immediately. Veesaar fits that profile perfectly.
The Draft Position: Why No. 27 Is the Sweet Spot
The Celtics pick at No. 27. That’s not a glamorous position. Most of the surefire stars will be gone. The sexy names will be off the board.
But the late first round is where championships are built. It’s where you find role players who can fill specific needs. It’s where you find the Bruce Browns, the Max Struses, the players who outplay their draft slot.
Veesaar at No. 27 would be a steal. A 7-footer who shoots 42% from three – that’s lottery talent. The only reason he’s projected to fall is his age and his unconventional path.
The Celtics would be smart to take him. And according to Buckley, they will.
What This Means for Luka Garza
Let’s be honest: this is bad news for Luka Garza.
Garza has been a serviceable backup for the Celtics. He’s played hard. He’s been a good teammate. But he’s not a rotation player on a championship contender.
If the Celtics draft Veesaar, Garza’s minutes would disappear. He’d be the third-string center at best, more likely the fourth big man who only plays in blowouts.
That’s the nature of the NBA. It’s a business. Players get replaced by younger, more talented versions of themselves.
Garza will find another team. He’s too skilled to be out of the league. But his time in Boston might be coming to an end.
The Big Picture: How Veesaar Fits into Boston’s Long-Term Plans
Let’s zoom out.
Al Horford is 40. He’ll probably retire after next season. Kristaps Porzingis is 30 and injury-prone. The Celtics need a long-term solution at center – someone who can grow with Tatum and Brown.
Veesaar isn’t a franchise center. He’s not going to be an All-Star. But he could be a solid starter for the next five to seven years – a player who spaces the floor, protects the rim, and does all the little things that winning teams need.
If the Celtics draft him, they’d have their backup center of the future. He’d learn behind Horford for a year, then take over a larger role when Horford retires.
That’s the smart way to build a sustainable contender. Not with flashy trades, but with smart draft picks who fill specific roles.
The Boston Celtics are picking at No. 27 in the 2026 NBA Draft. It’s not where they wanted to be – they expected to be playing in June, not drafting in May. But the silver lining is that a player like Henri Veesaar might be available.
Veesaar is a 7-foot center who just shot 42.6% from three-point range and averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds in his final college season. He’s older than most prospects – 22 – but that means he’s ready to contribute immediately.
The Celtics need a stretch big. Nikola Vučević is a free agent. Luka Garza hasn’t proven he can handle the role. Al Horford is 40. Kristaps Porzingis is injury-prone.
Henri Veesaar could solve all those problems. He can shoot. He can pass. He can protect the rim. He can rebound. And he can do it all without needing years of development.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report thinks Boston will take him. And if they do, Celtics fans should be thrilled.
Because a 7-foot sharpshooter who falls to No. 27 isn’t a consolation prize. It’s a steal. And it might be the quiet move that puts Boston back in the championship conversation.