Celtics
Big men Ryan Kalkbrenner and Maxime Raynaud could help fill a void.
Ryan Kalkbrenner's size is a major asset, but there's a lot more to his game than initially meets the eye. Evan Bernstein/Getty Images
By Trevor Hass
June 18, 2025 | 9:20 AM
4 minutes to read
As the NBA transitions from the postseason to the offseason, the Celtics find themselves at a potentially franchise-shaping crossroads.
The roster will almost certainly look different next year, and it’s possible it could look dramatically different.
There’s always a chance the Celtics will trade their picks as part of a major blockbuster that shakes up the basketball world. If they elect to keep them, they’ll have the 28th and 32nd selections Wednesday, June 25, and Thursday, June 26.
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens has a knack for finding gems later in the NBA Draft. Here are 10 players the Celtics could target with those picks, in alphabetical order.
Koby Brea, Kentucky SG/SF
If the Celtics have to part ways with Sam Hauser, Brea could be an ideal replacement to complement Baylor Scheierman. A career 43.5 percent 3-point shooter with a quick release and limitless range, he could provide a spark off the bench for years to come. Defense is a question mark, but like Hauser, he’s someone who’s always fine-tuning and steadily improving his game.
Slow-motion look at Koby Brea’s shooting mechanics. The 6’6 wing has one of the most prolific shooting profiles in the 2025 NBA Draft.
This past season at Kentucky
• 43.5% on 5.9 3PA per game
• 45.8% on guarded CnS 3s
• 42.7% on off-the-bounce 3s pic.twitter.com/BJzFDO9XVQ
— Jacob Myers (@League_Him) May 26, 2025
Walter Clayton Jr., Florida PG
Clayton is a tricky one. At first glance, his measurables aren’t that impressive (6’2, 199 pounds, 6’4 wingspan, and 8’1.5 standing reach), but Clayton has a unique swagger and clutch component to his game like Kemba Walker. He steered the Gators to a national championship this past spring, hitting a steady stream of big-time shots with everything on the line. The Celtics could use another backup point guard, and Clayton may be worth a shot.
Fresh off a national championship, named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Florida's Walter Clayton is busy getting ready for his next chapter. I watched him work out and saw some of the skill level and scoring instincts that help make him a projected first-rounder. pic.twitter.com/H4wNT7Te1M
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 7, 2025
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton C
Kalkbrenner was one of the absolute best players in college basketball this past year. He increased his scoring average all five seasons, finishing with 19.2 points along with 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in his last run with the Bluejays. Lateral mobility is a legitimate concern, but like with Donovan Clingan or Zach Edey, you can’t teach height. Plus, don’t sleep on his surprisingly solid range, defensive instincts, or basketball IQ. He would certainly relish the chance to reunite with his former teammate Scheierman.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner reminded NBA teams of his tremendous tools and rim-running, floor stretching potential at the Priority Sports pro day in Chicago.
4x Big East defensive player of the year has a 7'6 wingspan and 9'4 standing reach. pic.twitter.com/640Z0TzqC0
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 19, 2025
Chaz Lanier, Tennessee SG
Lanier (6’4, 199 pounds) is a bit of an in-between size, but he’s a lethal shooter and plays hard defensively. He averaged 18 points and shot 39.5 percent from 3 last year and was a critical part of one of the best defenses in the country. Lanier’s the type of player who should earn his way onto a roster because of his work ethic, then once he gets comfortable, the shots will start to fall.
Drake Powell, North Carolina SG/SF
With tremendous instincts and anticipation, Powell (6’6, 195) has a chance to blossom into an elite NBA defender. He also shot 37.9 percent from 3-point range last year as a freshman and could emerge as a legit two-way player. Think Aaron Nesmith, in terms of a long-term project with upside that may take some time but could yield fruitful results.
Drake Powell played on guard-heavy @UNC_Basketball this year. He averaged SIX shots a game. He’s an improving jumpshot away from making a fortune some day. Underrated offensive skills & maybe best wing defender in draft. The athleticism is elite. @coach_paint pic.twitter.com/GlePxBOwUw
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) May 20, 2025
Maxime Raynaud, Stanford PF/C
Raynaud, a 7-foot-1-inch force from France, averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks for Stanford last year. He moves well for his size, excels in the pick and roll, and is also a 3-point threat. Raynaud has a high floor and high ceiling, and if he’s still available, the Celtics shouldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Will Riley, Illinois SF
Much like Jayson Tatum was in 2017, Riley is “only 19” with tremendous upside. At 6 feet, 8 inches, 180 pounds, he’s long, athletic, and should be able to bulk up in the years to come. He averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last year at Illinois, including a 22-point performance in a tournament triumph over Xavier that offered a glimpse into his true potential.
Went to watch Illinois' Will Riley working out in Los Angeles. The Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year has a big week coming at the NBA Combine in Chicago. The 19-year-old Canadian is building his frame while maintaining his guard skills at 6'8. pic.twitter.com/TfuhkcBxhl
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 6, 2025
Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest SG
Sallis began his career at Gonzaga before transferring to Wake Forest and emerging as a star. He’s a reliable slasher and athletic finisher at the rim who can match up with guards or bigger forwards as needed. The 22-year-old Sallis may not have as much upside as some players on this list, but his floor may be among the highest in the group.
Watched Kam Jones and Hunter Sallis this morning.
Great energy from Jones. Improved playmaking won't show much during workout season, but shotmaking, touch are evident. Also >65% finisher 3 straight years. Sallis has some of best pullup shooting #s in draft, eye test backs it… pic.twitter.com/bvfUDnayIa
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) May 1, 2025
Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm PG
Saraf, a crafty and enticing 6-foot-6-inch point lefty point guard, plays with pizzazz and has a little Beno Udrih in him. A clever passer who keeps his opponents guessing, he could mesh nicely with Boston’s shooters and help the Celtics play with pace. He could also allow Payton Pritchard to play off-ball more and free him up for open looks.
16 points, 6 assists, 2 steals for Ben Saraf in the German playoff semis. The 19-year-old Israeli demonstrated his playmaking ability creating for others and scoring in the lane, generated a bunch of turnovers, and hit a huge pull-up 3 in overtime to help seal the win. pic.twitter.com/FrXsAN3RFM
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 3, 2025
Danny Wolf, Michigan PF/C
Wolf is one of the more intriguing players in this year’s draft. With some Kelly Olynyk and some Boris Diaw, he’s a heck of a passer and playmaker. He’s a tough one to gauge, because he could end up as a Franz Wagner-like star on a good team, or he could end up struggling to find a home. The risk may be worth it because of his unique skill set.
Danny Wolf showing off his stroke in the spot-up 3-point shooting drill. Michigan big measured a hair under 7-feet in shoes, 252 pounds with a 7'2 wingspan and 9'1 standing reach. pic.twitter.com/RiFHKpAklQ
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 15, 2025
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Trevor Hass
Trevor Hass is a sports producer for Boston.com, where he writes and edits stories about Boston's professional teams, among other tasks.
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