Everything is still ahead for the Celtics now that Jayson Tatum has returned to the lineup, and the early results have fans dreaming of a championship. It has quickly become a very realistic dream, and that has obviously become the clear and present focus.
But for the front office of one of the best organizations in the NBA, the sole focus can never be on the present, and that’s the case for Brad Stevens and his group more than ever. They have some cap gymnastics to work on in the coming weeks, to make sure they stay beneath the luxury tax line this season.
That probably means saying goodbye to Charles Bassey after another 10-day contract and converting Ron Harper Jr.’s two-way deal. But even beyond that, Stevens has his eyes on the summer as Brian Scalabrine indicated on a recent appearance on the Zach Lowe Show.
The two recapped the Celtics’ win over the Thunder before digging into some other topics, including the NBA Draft. Scal made a bit of an off-handed comment about how he was talking to Stevens recently, and the Celtics’ president is already excited about his pick in the late 20s.
Celtics have dominated the draft from outside the lottery
On the surface, this may seem like nothing; a little anecdotal quip between guys who probably have a good relationship. But it should come as no surprise that Stevens is already deep in the woods when it comes to the 2026 NBA Draft.
We’ve heard that this could be an iconic draft for years, and it’s pretty clear that there is plenty of star power at the top with guys like AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and others. But this draft goes a lot deeper than that, and Stevens knows there is great value to be found long after the lottery as well as anyone.
His drafting hasn’t defined Stevens’ brief, but successful tenure running the Celtics, but what he has done with his opportunities can’t be ignored. Despite having nothing close to a marquee pick, the Celtics have come away with Jordan Walsh at 38th overall in 2023, Baylor Scheierman at 30th overall in 2024, and Hugo Gonzalez at 28th overall in 2025.
Building depth via the draft will extend championship window
That’s three solid two-way rotation players at the tail end of the first round and early second round in three years. In today’s NBA with the strict CBA, it’s more critical than ever to find players who can contribute on value contracts, and these rookies are proving that.
Building depth throughout the draft is an amazing luxury for a team that’s constantly competing for titles, but that’s exactly what Boston has done. It has carried over into their eye for scouting and developing talent with guys like Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, Ron Harper Jr., and others.
It’s already making a huge difference, and as time goes on, the roster gets more expensive, and the margins will mean more than ever. It’s great to know that Stevens and company are already working on solutions for the future.