The Boston Celtics hold the No. 27 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and CBS Sports projects them selecting Henri Veesaar — the 6-foot-11 North Carolina junior who averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 42.6% from three. CBS notes Veesaar’s floor is “somewhere in the late 20s” and frames him as an offensive center with perimeter shooting and enough mobility to fit a modern NBA system. For Boston, whose identity depends on shooting and spacing at every position, Veesaar checks every box.

Veesaar entered the draft as a surprise — CBS notes some expected him to return to North Carolina or enter the portal — but a thinned center class with multiple peers opting for school strengthened his case to be a first-rounder. His 42.6% three-point shooting at the college level is the headline number, but his full profile is more complete: he rolls hard, finishes in the pick-and-roll, and has the passing vision and footwork of a player who has played at a high level in European youth programs before coming to North Carolina. His length and mobility allow him to defend at the five without being a static paint presence.

The opportunity cost at No. 27 is Meleek Thomas, who slides to Minnesota at No. 28 in this mock. Thomas is the Arkansas freshman who averaged 15.6 points and shot 41.6% from three — a guard with deep range and creation off the bounce who CBS says has the potential to be an “impactful” player in the league. Boston passing on Thomas’s guard scoring for Veesaar’s center footprint reflects the Celtics’ established preference for spacing and size over guard depth.

Bleacher Report diverges, projecting Isaiah Evans to Boston at No. 27 and framing him as another layer of the Celtics’ three-point shooting infrastructure. Tankathon projects Koa Peat to Boston. Yahoo Sports has Tarris Reed going to the Celtics, making a more physical frontcourt-depth argument. The range of projections for Boston reflects genuine evaluator disagreement about whether the Celtics need a center or another perimeter weapon first.

Outlet	Projected Player
CBS Sports	Henri Veesaar
Bleacher Report	Isaiah Evans
Tankathon	Koa Peat
Yahoo Sports	Tarris Reed Jr.

Boston’s roster context makes Veesaar’s profile almost purpose-built for the franchise. Neemias Queta provided reliable backup center minutes but is not a long-term starter-caliber piece. The Celtics operate one of the most shooting-intensive systems in the NBA under Joe Mazzulla, and their centers’ ability to pop to the three-point line — rather than anchor exclusively in the paint — directly enhances the offense’s spacing geometry. Veesaar’s 42.6% three-point shooting makes him an ideal stretch-five who doesn’t clog the lanes for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Veesaar is 22 as a junior, which means his ceiling may not rise dramatically from where he is now — but his floor as a functional NBA center with perimeter shooting is unusually high for the back end of the first round. Boston’s championship window is now; a ready-made rotation piece at center with a genuine three-point threat is exactly the kind of depth pick that pays off in a playoff series. Selecting him at No. 27 gives the Celtics their most effective center depth addition in years without sacrificing any assets to get there.