The Celtics are entering an offseason of uncertainty. As it currently stands, the 2024 NBA champions have the No. 28 and No. 32 picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, which is slated for June 25th.
Longtime draft expert Kevin O’Connor, of Yahoo Sports, joined Celtics podcast You Got Boston to discuss 12 potential prospects who might be available — and be selected — at No. 28 and No. 32.
If you’re just beginning to wade into the draft world and want to learn more about these prospects, I recommend exploring the two draft guides I reference throughout this article: Kevin O’Connor’s Big Board on Yahoo Sports and The Ringer’s Big Board.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Class: Senior, age 23
Position: Big
Measurements: 7’1, 257 lbs
Comparison: Jakob Poetl, Walker Kessler, Luke Kornet
Projected draft spot: 29 (Yahoo Sports), 35 (The Ringer)
Louisville v Creighton Ryan Kalkbrenner is a popular prospective Celtics draft seleciton.
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Yahoo Sports description: “Kalkbrenner is a throwback 7-footer who owns the paint, swatting shots with his giant wingspan and dunking everything in sight. It’s a bit strange that he isn’t a better rebounder. But as a super senior, he’s also developed some sneaky passing and shooting skills that hint at higher upside.”
The Ringer description: “Colossal big and interior presence on both ends.”
Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
Class: Freshman, age 19
Position: Big
Measurements: 6’10, 253 lbs
Comparisons: Jonas Valunciunas, Jusuf Nukic, Kevon Looney, Trayce-Jackson Davis
Projected draft spot: 21 (Yahoo Sports), 16 (The Ringer)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 15 Georgetown at Butler Georgetown’s Thomas Sorber could emerge as a post player of the future for the Celtics.
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Yahoo Sports description: “Sorber has a brick-house frame and the throwback skill-set to match with strong screens, soft-touch finishes, and gritty drop-coverage instincts. But to be more than a role player, he needs to tap into the flashes he shows as a shooter while also improving his perimeter defense.”
The Ringer description: “Disciplined two-way big man who wins with physicality and processes the game at 1.25-time speed.”
Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Penn State
Class: Junior, age 22
Position: Big
Measurements: 7’0, 243 lbs
Comparisons: DeAndre Jordan
Projected draft spot: 33 (Yahoo Sports)
2025 NBA Draft Combine Yanic Konan Niederhauser at the draft combine
Yahoo Sports description: “Konan Niederhauser is an elite athlete who lives above the rim as a finisher and shot blocker, and he displays some intriguing upside as a 7-foot shot creator. But he needs to improve his fundamentals to make it all click.”
Joan Berninger, France
Class: 18
Position: Big
Measurements: 6’10, 230 lbs
Comparisons: Clint Capela, Nerlens Noel, Daniel Gafford
Projected draft spot: 34 (Yahoo Sports), 30 (The Ringer)
Yahoo Sports description: “Berninger began playing basketball only three years ago, which makes him a raw project, but also makes his natural talents all the more impressive. He’s a center but has the quickness of a guard, giving him immense defensive versatility to build on for years to come.”
The Ringer description: “Instinctive, physically gifted big man who’s as raw as sashimi.”
Drake Powell, North Carolina
Class: Freshman, age 19
Position: Wing
Measurements: 6’5, 200 lbs
Comparisons: Mikal Bridges, Isaac Okoro, Taurean Prince, Terance Mann
Projected draft spot: 16 (Yahoo Sports), 21 (The Ringer)
NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-North Carolina at Mississippi Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Yahoo Sports description: “Powell has a chiseled frame that he uses to barrel into defenders at the rim and to contain opponents when he’s on defense. He’s a switch-everything defender who plays with a high motor, and if his spot-up jumper translates, he checks all the boxes to be a 3-and-D role player at a minimum.”
The Ringer description: “Lean and mean two-way wing with the tools to be switchy on defense and swishy when spacing the floor.”
Nique Clifford, Colorado State
Class: Junior, age 23
Position: Wing
Measurements: 6’6, 203 lbs
Comparisons: Justin Holiday, Moses Moody, Josh Hart, Khris Middleton, Desmond Bane
Projected draft spot: 14 (The Ringer), 18 (Yahoo Sports)
Colorado State v Maryland Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Yahoo Sports description: “Clifford is a tough-as-nails wing who does it all. He defends multiple positions, crashes the boards, and scores from everywhere. But as a super senior with only Mountain West pedigree, he lacks experience against high level competition despite his age.”
The Ringer description: “Mature, well-rounded wing with an ideal physical frame for the modern NBA game.”
Hugo Gonzalez, Spain
Class: Age 19
Measurements: 6’6, 205 lbs
Position: Wing
Comparisons: Josh Green, Nikola Djurisic
Projected draft spot: 23 (Yahoo Sports), 45 (The Ringer)
Real Madrid v Baskonia - First Game Quarter Finals Playoff Liga ACB Hugo Gonzalez hasn’t gotten a ton of run with Real Madrid, but is a prospective first-round pick the Celtics could draft.
Photo by Sara Gordon/Real Madrid via Getty Images
Yahoo Sports description: “Gonzalez is a high-motor wing with great defensive tools and a slashing style on offense. If his jumper and handle develop, he could be a versatile two-way starter. But he barely even played off the bench overseas.”
The Ringer description: “High-energy wing whose role is somewhere amid a haze of concerns about his shooting and decision-making.”
Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s
Class: Junior, age 20
Measurements: 6’9, 232 lbs
Position: Wing
Comparisons: Larry Nance Jr., Brandon Bass
Projected draft spot: 25 (Yahoo Sports), 23 (The Ringer)
Saint Joseph’s v George Mason Saint Joseph’s Rasheer Fleming could emerge as one of this draft class’s elite defenders.
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Yahoo Sports description: “Fleming is a hustler who drains spot-up jumpers and brings energy on defense, swatting shots and snagging boards. But he has some real warts as a ball-handler with a lack of experience against high-level competition, so teams will have to feel real confident his role player skill-set will translate.”
The Ringer description: “Athletic, play-finishing 3-and-D big man with a retrofuturistic style lifted directly from NBA Live 06’s Create-a-Player assembly line.”
Noah Penda, France
Class: Age 20
Measurements: 6’8, 225 lbs
Position: Wing
Comparisons: Naji Marshall, Nicolas Batum
Projected draft spot: 17 (The Ringer), 31 (Yahoo Sports)
BASKET-CUP-PARIS-LE MANS Noah Penda’s high IQ and unselfish game could make him a great fit on the Celtics.
Yahoo Sports description: “Penda plays with a veteran’s mind and a winning mentality, offering connective playmaking, switchable defense, and high-level feel. He’ll need to improve his jumper to stick long-term, but his unselfish game and defensive utility give him a strong foundation.”
The Ringer description: “Instinctive, big-bodied defender with all the glue-guy skills to stay on the floor as he hones his offensive repertoire.”
Alijah Martin, Florida
Class: Senior, age 23
Position: Wing
Measurements: 6’2, 210 lbs
Comparisons: De’Anthony Melton, Derrick Jones Jr.
Projected draft spot: 40 (Yahoo Sports)
2025 NBA Draft Combine Alijah Martin is a prospective Celtics second-round pick.
Yahoo Sports description: “Martin is a hyper-athletic, high-energy guard who plays bigger than his size and impacts the game with his toughness, rebounding, and defensive grit. But his positional tweener status, streaky shooting, and limited creation ability complicate his ability to carve out a specialized role.”
Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
Class: Age 22
Position: Guard
Measurements: 6’5, 181 lbs
Comparisons: Donte DiVincenzo
Projected draft spot: 38 (Yahoo Sports)
2025 NBA Draft Combine Wake Forest’s Hunter Sallis could bring shot creation and at-rim finishing to the Celtics.
Yahoo Sports description: “Sallis is a poised, efficient scorer with body control, defensive tenacity, and the passing feel to hint at more upside. If the jumper proves real, he could play a much larger offensive role than his current projection.”
Adou Thiero, Arkansas
Class: Junior, age 21
Position: Wing
Measurements: 6’6, 218 lbs
Comparisons: Toumani Camara, Haywood Highsmith, Torrey Craig
Projected draft spot: 35 (Yahoo Sports), 34 (The Ringer)
Missouri v Arkansas Adou Thiero could emerge as one of the draft’s permier 3-and-D players.
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Yahoo Sports description: “Thiero is a slasher with a jacked frame and an explosive first step, but he has severe limitations on offense as a shooter. If he’s able to figure out the shot then his length and versatility would make him a classic 3-and-D role player.”
The Ringer description: “Switchable forward who is perpetually shot out of a cannon and is able to sprinkle value across the stat sheet.”