Nine days after winning the 18th NBA title in franchise history, the Celtics have an opportunity to improve their roster.
While Brad Stevens made several savvy moves to assemble Boston’s championship roster, he did not part ways with the franchise’s first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Despite a relatively down draft year, the champs can now add a first-round talent to a championship roster.
The 2024 NBA Draft kicks off a major offseason for the Celtics, who will negotiate contract extensions with All-Defensive guard Derrick White and All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum. With the franchise cornerstones in place, Boston will use the draft to supplement existing talent and begin its quest for a 19th NBA championship.
Here is an outlook on the Celtics’ draft situation.
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Celtics draft picks 2024: When does Boston pick?
The Celtics own two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft:
- Round 1, No. 30
- Round 2, No. 54
As owners of the best record during the 2023-24 NBA season, the Celtics will make the final selection of the first round in the 2024 NBA Draft. Boston’s second-round pick originally belonged to Dallas, which will now make the final selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.
In 2023, the Celtics originally owned a late first-round pick before executing multiple trades to move into the second round, where they selected forward Jordan Walsh from Arkansas. Walsh, 20, played a limited role with Boston as a rookie but has shown flashes that indicate he will be a part of the franchise’s future plans.
The trades that the Celtics executed in 2023 should serve as a reminder that Stevens could again be active in the trade market. Given the contract guarantees associated with first-round picks, Boston’s 30th overall pick has value for a team that could be deeper in a rebuild.
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Celtics 2024 NBA Draft order
| Round | Pick | Selection |
| 1 | 30 | TBD |
| 2 | 54 | TBD |
Celtics draft needs
- Stretch big man: During the NBA Finals, each member of the Celtics’ eight-man rotation could shoot the ball from distance — it’s a critical element of the team’s playstyle under head coach Joe Mazzulla. With Al Horford entering his 18th NBA season and the final year of his contract, the Celtics can look for another stretch big man who could serve as an understudy to help ease the transition when Horford eventually retires. As shown by Xavier Tillman’s presence during Game 3 of the Finals, the right stretch big man can be plugged into the system to play and ensure the offense continues to hum efficiently.
- Depth: No roster is flawless but the defending champs have assembled a team that perfectly suits how Mazzulla wants to play, with each player complementing one another. That said, the Celtics have the luxury of being able to go in several directions with their pick. Boston can draft for fit or select the best player available, regardless of fit. As calculated as the Celtics front office is, there will almost certainly be a long-term element with their selections.
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NBA Mock Draft 2024
In Kyle Irving’s most recent mock draft, the Celtics select forwards Baylor Scheierman 30th overall and Trentyn Flowers with the 56th overall pick.
Scheierman is a seasoned 6-6 forward coming off a decorated season as a fifth-year senior at Creighton. He will be 24 ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season, and his experience will come in handy as he joins a roster with expectations to win big as a rookie.
During his final season at Crieghton, Scheierman earned an array of All-American honors after averaging 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists over 35 games.
Flowers is a high-upside 19-year-old who spent last season with the Adelaide 36ers as part of the NBL’s Next Stars Program in Australia. Flowers was a highly-touted recruit in the high school class of 2023 and brings immense upside that could be cultivated with Boston’s NBA G League franchise in Maine.