The Boston Celtics head into the 2025 NBA Draft with picks 28 and 32, standing at a pivotal moment. With Jayson Tatum recovering from injury and veterans like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis facing uncertain futures, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens faces his most critical draft night yet. The Celtics, fresh off a 2024 championship but a 2024-25 Eastern Conference semifinals exit, need to blend youth with their contending core. Bleacher Report highlights five prospects—Thomas Sorber, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Walter Clayton Jr., Maxime Raynaud, and Cedric Coward—who could address Boston’s needs, whether through their picks or a trade-up. From rim-protecting bigs to clutch-scoring guards, these talents could fortify the Celtics’ roster. Can Stevens’ draft magic keep Boston’s dynasty alive? Let’s dive into the prospects, their fit, and what this draft means for the Green.
The Celtics’ Crossroads: Balancing a Championship Core with Youth
The 2024-25 season saw the Celtics finish 50-32, good for the East’s No. 3 seed, but a semifinals loss to Cleveland exposed vulnerabilities. Jayson Tatum, averaging 30.3 points and 8.1 rebounds, per NBA.com, missed 12 games due to a knee strain, while Jaylen Brown (26.7 points) carried the load. Kristaps Porzingis’ recurring foot injuries limited him to 57 games, and Al Horford, at 39, played 65 but showed signs of decline, per Basketball Reference. The Celtics’ $189 million payroll, second-highest in the NBA, per Spotrac, faces CBA restrictions, with Horford’s $10 million expiring deal and Sam Hauser’s $2.1 million club option adding urgency to roster planning.
Stevens’ draft track record—nabbing Robert Williams III (No. 27 in 2018) and Payton Pritchard (No. 26 in 2020)—shows his knack for late-first-round gems. With picks 28 and 32, Boston aims to address frontcourt depth, guard scoring, and wing versatility. Posts on X, like @mcfNBA’s praise for Thomas Sorber’s “T10 value,” reflect fan excitement for a loaded draft class. The Celtics’ top-ranked defense (108.9 points allowed per 100 possessions) and sixth-ranked offense (116.2 points per 100) need role players who fit Joe Mazzulla’s system of spacing, switching, and grit. These five prospects offer tailored solutions.
Prospect Breakdown: Five Fits for Boston’s Needs
1. Thomas Sorber (Georgetown, C, 6’10”, 253 lbs)
Comparison: Jonas Valanciunas, Kevon Looney, Jusuf Nurkić
Stats: 8.5 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 53% FG, Big East All-Freshman Team
Fit: Sorber’s physicality channels Boston’s big-man tradition, like Horford and Williams. His 7’6” wingspan and 7.8% block rate, per @mcfNBA, make him a paint enforcer, ranking in the 89th percentile for rim protection, per Synergy Sports. His 1.4 assists per game and short-roll passing add playmaking, while his 62.3% two-point shooting complements Tatum’s drives (6.2 per game). Sorber could back up Porzingis, whose 29.6 minutes per game strain his durability, per NBA.com. At pick 28, Sorber’s grit and screen-setting (2.3 screen assists per game) align with Mazzulla’s high-post sets, though his 29% three-point shooting needs work.
2. Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton, C, 7’1”, 257 lbs)
Comparison: Jakob Poeltl, Walker Kessler, Luke Kornet
Stats: 19.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4x Big East Defensive Player of the Year
Fit: Kalkbrenner’s rim protection (2.9 BPG) addresses Boston’s need for a defensive anchor, especially with Porzingis’ injury concerns (missed 25 games in 2024-25). His 20-of-22 field goal, 49-point outburst, per @brhoops, showcases efficiency (64.1% FG), ideal for Mazzulla’s pick-and-roll sets. Having played with Celtic Baylor Scheierman at Creighton, their 1.18 points per pick-and-roll possession could translate to Boston’s bench, per Synergy. Kalkbrenner’s 34.7% three-point shooting (0.8 attempts) adds stretch potential. At pick 32, he’s a steal, though his 1.9 fouls per 40 minutes suggest discipline for NBA physicality.
3. Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida, Guard, 6’2”, 199 lbs)
Comparison: Jamal Murray, CJ McCollum
Stats: 18.3 PPG, 38% 3PT, Final Four Most Outstanding Player
Fit: Clayton’s clutch scoring, like his 34-point NCAA semifinal, per @HoHighlights, brings backcourt firepower. With Derrick White’s $20 million deal expiring in 2026 and Pritchard’s minutes capped at 22.4, per NBA.com, Clayton’s 1.32 points per pick-and-roll possession (87th percentile, Synergy) energizes the bench. His 38% on 6.3 three-point attempts spaces the floor for Brown’s 4.9 drives per game. Clayton’s 2.1 steals per game add defensive bite, mirroring Stevens’ guard archetype. Pick 28 could secure him, but his 2.3 turnovers per game signal a need for polish in Boston’s low-turnover system (12.1 per game, 4th in NBA).
4. Maxime Raynaud (Stanford, C, 7’1”, 237 lbs)
Comparison: Brook Lopez, Rasheed Wallace
Stats: 15.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 37% 3PT
Fit: Raynaud’s stretch-big skillset modernizes Boston’s frontcourt. His 37% on 2.4 three-point attempts, per @tyler_rucker, creates space for Tatum’s 8.1 iso points per game, per NBA.com. Raynaud’s 2.7 assists per game unlock Mazzulla’s five-out sets, ranking in the 78th percentile for big-man passing, per Synergy. His 9.3 rebounds bolster Boston’s 11th-ranked rebounding (44.2 per game). At pick 32, Raynaud’s 1.1 blocks per game add depth behind Horford, though his 237-pound frame may struggle against Joel Embiid-types (278 lbs). His Stanford polish fits Boston’s high-IQ culture.
5. Cedric Coward (Washington State/Duke, Guard, 6’7”, 225 lbs)
Comparison: Kawhi Leonard “lite,” Jerami Grant, Ayo Dosunmu
Stats: 17.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.7 APG (6 games), 39% 3PT career
Fit: Coward’s lottery projection, per @tyler_rucker, requires a trade-up, possibly packaging Hauser and picks. His two-way versatility—1.4 steals, 0.9 blocks, 39% on 3.2 three-point attempts—embodies Boston’s wing ideal, like Jrue Holiday (1.2 steals). Coward’s 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists, despite a shortened season, fit Mazzulla’s positionless system, which ranks 7th in pace (99.8). He could replace Hauser (43.2% 3PT but 0.7 steals), whose trade rumors swirl, per The Athletic. Coward’s 54.3% effective field goal percentage suits Boston’s 3rd-ranked shooting (56.1%). His combine buzz makes him a reach but a high-upside swing.
Strategic Fit: Addressing Boston’s Roster Gaps
Boston’s roster needs are clear: frontcourt depth to spell Porzingis and Horford, guard scoring to support White and Pritchard, and a versatile wing to replace Hauser or hedge against Kuminga-like departures. The Celtics’ 2024-25 bench ranked 22nd in scoring (32.4 points per game), per NBA.com, exposing a reliance on Tatum and Brown (combined 57 points per game). Sorber and Kalkbrenner shore up the paint, with Sorber’s physicality (8.5 RPG) and Kalkbrenner’s blocks (2.9 BPG) complementing Porzingis’ 1.9 blocks. Raynaud’s spacing (37% 3PT) stretches defenses, boosting Boston’s 10th-ranked three-point attempts (38.2 per game).
Clayton’s 18.3 points inject bench offense, easing White’s 15.2-point load, while Coward’s two-way play (17.7 PPG, 1.4 SPG) mirrors Holiday’s +4.2 net rating, per Cleaning the Glass. Boston’s top-ranked defensive versatility (1.1 steals per game) thrives with Kalkbrenner and Coward, while Sorber and Raynaud’s rebounding addresses the 15th-ranked defensive rebounding rate (71.2%). Stevens’ $150 million luxury tax bill, per Spotrac, demands cost-controlled rookies ($1.2-$1.5 million salaries) who contribute immediately, making picks 28 and 32 critical.
Risks and Challenges: Drafting in the Late First Round
Late-first-round picks carry risks. Sorber’s 29% three-point shooting limits spacing, clashing with Boston’s 36.8% team three-point clip. Kalkbrenner’s 1.9 fouls per 40 minutes and limited lateral quickness may struggle against Nikola Jokić-types (25.3 PPG vs. Boston). Clayton’s 2.3 turnovers could disrupt Boston’s 4th-ranked turnover rate (12.1 per game). Raynaud’s 237-pound frame risks being bullied by Giannis Antetokounmpo (32.7 PPG vs. Boston), while Coward’s six-game sample raises durability concerns, per DraftExpress.
Trading up for Coward could cost Hauser and both picks, depleting depth, especially with Oshae Brissett’s free agency looming, per NBC Sports Boston. Stevens’ history of trading picks (e.g., Desmond Bane in 2020) adds pressure to hit on 28 and 32. X posts like “Why draft another big when KP’s back?” reflect fan skepticism about frontcourt focus. Missing on these picks could force reliance on minimum veterans like Luke Kornet ($2.8 million), who lack upside. Competition from teams like Milwaukee (pick 29) for Raynaud or Clayton adds urgency, per CBS Sports.
Rewards of the Draft: Building a Dynasty’s Next Chapter
The rewards are dynasty-defining. Sorber and Kalkbrenner could anchor the paint for a decade, with Kalkbrenner’s Scheierman chemistry yielding +6.1 net rating in Creighton’s 2024-25 sets, per Synergy. Clayton’s Final Four heroics signal playoff clutch (34 points vs. Auburn), boosting Boston’s 8th-ranked clutch offense (+3.2 points per 100 possessions). Raynaud’s Lopez-like spacing (37% 3PT) could elevate Tatum’s 1.1 points per iso possession to Curry-like efficiency (1.3). Coward’s Kawhi-esque versatility (17.7 PPG, 39% 3PT) could mirror Brown’s +5.3 playoff net rating, per NBA.com.
Rookies on $1.2 million deals preserve flexibility to re-sign White or pursue a mid-level exception in 2026, per Spotrac. Boston’s $1.7 billion TD Garden fanbase, averaging 19,156 attendees, per Forbes, craves Banner 19, and these prospects fuel that quest. Clayton and Coward’s scoring could lift the bench to top-15 status, while Sorber, Kalkbrenner, and Raynaud’s size counters Miami’s Bam Adebayo (22.4 PPG vs. Boston). Stevens’ picks could emulate Williams’ 8.0 RPG, 1.8 BPG impact, ensuring Boston’s top-ranked net rating (+7.4) endures.
The Bigger Picture: Stevens’ Vision for a Celtics Renaissance
Stevens’ draft strategy blends versatility, immediate impact, and Boston’s gritty identity. The 2024 title and 18 championships set a high bar, but Tatum’s prime (27 years old) and Mazzulla’s 63.4% win rate demand youth to sustain dominance. Sorber, Kalkbrenner, and Raynaud fortify the frontcourt, Clayton ignites the backcourt, and Coward embodies the wing archetype that powered runs against Giannis and Butler. B/R Hoops’ Kalkbrenner hype and @tyler_rucker’s Coward praise signal a draft class deep enough for late-first steals.
Boston’s $6.6 billion valuation, per Forbes, reflects global appeal, amplified by rookies who fit the “Celtics Pride” ethos. Trading up for Coward or standing pat with Sorber and Clayton tests Stevens’ balance of risk and reward. X buzz, like “Kalkbrenner’s our next Timelord,” captures fan hope. With Tatum’s return targeting October 2025, per ESPN, and Brown’s 5.2 assists per game fueling a top-10 offense, these picks could extend Boston’s window past Horford’s retirement, rivaling San Antonio’s Tim Duncan-era longevity.
The Boston Celtics’ 2025 NBA Draft, with picks 28 and 32, is a defining moment to reload their championship roster. Thomas Sorber, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Walter Clayton Jr., Maxime Raynaud, and Cedric Coward offer solutions to Boston’s frontcourt, backcourt, and wing needs, blending grit, shooting, and versatility. Brad Stevens’ draft decisions—whether standing pat or trading up—could cement the Celtics’ dynasty alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Risks loom, but the rewards could yield Banner 19. Celtics Nation, who’s your pick to wear the Green?