The Boston Celtics are heading into the draft and free agency with very few needs.
However, with 11 players already under contract and negotiations anticipated for a new deal with Derrick White, who was acquired by Stevens and the Celtics in 2022, Boston’s roster appears largely settled for the upcoming season.
On Tuesday, Stevens indicated his readiness to utilize the Celtics’ two picks to enhance future depth, suggesting the possibility of targeting an international prospect for future development or considering a G League prospect with their final first-round pick, No. 30, on Wednesday.
“It will be challenging for any draft pick to earn playing time in our lineup when everyone is healthy,” Stevens commented. “We are focused on investing in the development and progress of our young players. If we continue to progress with this team, these players will see significant court time. This draft presents a great chance to bring in someone who can contribute to our future success.”
The Celtics also have the 54th pick, just five picks from the end of the second round in this draft, which spans two nights. The first round takes place on Wednesday in Brooklyn, followed by the second round, comprising picks 31 through 58, on the subsequent night.
Although Stevens confirmed that center Kristaps Porzingis was expected to undergo surgery soon, the Celtics are not in a position to actively pursue players when free agency begins on Sunday.
This is partly due to the planned extensions for Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, the latter of whom has one year left on his four-year, $70 million contract.
Jayson Tatum, a five-time All-Star, has one year remaining on his contract. He is eligible for a five-year, $315 million extension that would make him the NBA’s top-paid player. ESPN reported last week that the extension is anticipated to be finalized in July. With Jaylen Brown’s $304 million contract signed last summer also on the books, Stevens will have limited flexibility to secure insurance for Kristaps Porzingis.
Boston extended Porzingis’s contract for two years, now running through the 2025-26 season, and also awarded Jrue Holiday a new contract that runs until 2027.
Stevens has reiterated several times that the Celtics intend to keep White. They have the option to offer him an extension worth up to 140 percent of his current salary, which would be comparable to the four-year, $135 million extension Boston awarded Holiday in April.
