A new NBA mock draft from FanSided's Christopher Kline dropped on Friday, and it had the Boston Celtics taking 7-foot-2 Arizona center Motiejus Krivas with their first-round selection.
"Boston has found a nice frontcourt balance with Neemias Queta's breakout and the subsequent Nikola Vučević trade, but it wouldn't be unwise to target some longer-term insurance late in the first round," Kline wrote.
"Motiejus Krivas anchors an elite Arizona defense. He went from averaging 15 minutes per game as a sophomore to full-time starter duties this season, emerging as one of the most forceful and intimidating paint protectors in college basketball."
"The Celtics aced their 2025 pick on similar grounds, adding an energizer bunny with an edge in Hugo González," Kline continued.
"Krivas can muck it up in the post with gaping arms, an unmovable core and a plus-plus-plus instincts. No collegiate big man more successfully processes the floor in front of him and anticipates action around the rim. Krivas is physical without fouling, he's almost never out of position, and his 7.4 percent block rate somehow undersells just how hard it is to find a clear path to the rim when he's lurking down low."
Broke down Motiejus Krivas' tape. Did a full 40-minute video. The best rim protector in college basketball. The numbers are laughable (more on those tomorrow)
Elite in drop coverage. Uses verticality contests at the rim better than anyone in the countryhttps://t.co/xkHrNOreMs pic.twitter.com/tLKM2uW9dG
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 2, 2026
A native of Lithuania, Krivas has developed steadily throughout his college career. As a freshman in 2023-24, he appeared in all 36 games off the bench, averaging 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game while contributing solid interior defense with 0.5 blocks per contest.
His sophomore season in 2024-25 was limited to the first eight games due to a season-ending injury, where he posted 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, including one start.
Fully healthy as a junior in 2025-26, Krivas has emerged as a key starter for the top-ranked Wildcats (through early March). His rim protection stands out as among the nation's best.
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