The Boston Celtics hold two picks in the 2026 NBA Draft — No. 27 and No. 40 (via the Bucks) — positions that give them one late first-round slot and a second-round add on a team trying to sustain a championship window. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman projects Boston to add a versatile forward at each selection, prioritizing players who know their role without requiring significant development time.

At No. 27, Wasserman projects Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves to Boston. Graves is an unusual prospect: an “analytic darling” with elite BPM metrics, rare defensive playmaking, passing, ball-security, and offensive rebounding, combined with a 6’9″ frame, great hands, and enough touch to shoot threes. Wasserman notes that “scouts are anticipating first-round looks for Graves based on his feel, analytics and specific versatility,” even while acknowledging his athletic limitations are well-documented. His basketball IQ and connective skills fit the Celtics’ system — a team that values intelligence and positional versatility over raw athleticism.

CBS Sports projects Amari Allen to Boston at No. 27, while Tankathon has Joshua Jefferson there. Yahoo Sports projects Tarris Reed to the Celtics — a center-focused option that would address Boston’s acknowledged need for interior reinforcement following Neemias Queta’s inconsistent season. The disagreement across outlets reflects the Celtics’ genuine flexibility at this spot, as they don’t have a desperate positional need that narrows their options dramatically.

The opportunity cost at No. 27 is Dailyn Swain, projected to Los Angeles at No. 25 in this mock. Swain’s creation, size, and defensive playmaking would arguably fit Boston’s system better than Graves’s more static profile, but Swain projects higher in most mocks and wouldn’t be available to the Celtics at No. 27.

At No. 40 — a second-round pick received via the Milwaukee Bucks — Wasserman projects Arkansas senior Trevon Brazile. A 6’10” stretch-four who “suddenly looks like a more believable pro prospect with improved shooting and driving,” Brazile gives Boston a developmental power forward with clear role definition. His three-point development and size create a useful stretch-four-and-finisher archetype that fits cleanly on Boston’s bench without requiring featured usage.

For a Celtics team coming off a championship run, these two picks represent low-risk additions that don’t disrupt the existing rotation. Graves at 27 brings intelligence and feel that the Celtics coaching staff can develop into something useful. Brazile at 40 adds a potential stretch-four depth piece at minimal cost. Neither pick is transformative, but both address the Celtics’ actual need: adding versatile forwards who understand the system and contribute without demanding major minutes. That kind of draft efficiency is what keeps a contending roster competitive year over year without compromising future flexibility.

Outlet	Projected Player
Bleacher Report	Allen Graves (No. 27)
CBS Sports	Amari Allen (No. 27)
Tankathon	Joshua Jefferson (No. 27)
Yahoo Sports	Tarris Reed (No. 27)