Celtics Linked to Purdue Guard in New Mock Draft

The Boston Celtics currently hold three second-round picks for the 2026 NBA Draft. They have the most favorable selection between the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers. They also have the most favorable selection between the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic. And a potential pick swap with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Brad Stevens has not been shy when it comes to trading second-round draft selections, either on the night of the draft or as part of deals to improve the roster. Still, there is a chance the Celtics will use at least one of their second-rounders in the upcoming draft.

In a recent mock trade from Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, the Celtics are predicted to select Purdue guard Braden Smith with the 33rd pick. Landing so high would require Boston to get the Pelicans’ second-rounder.

“All it takes is one team to believe Braden Smith’s pick-and-roll feel and shotmaking are advanced enough for a backup role,” Wasserman wrote. “There figures to be more than one front office that sees a second-round gamble worth taking on such an accomplished, all-intangible playmaker, particularly as drafts become shallower due to NIL bringing back more underclassmen to college.”

Smith, 22, is in his fourth season with Purdue. He would be another low-ceiling, high-floor addition, which is what Stevens has looked for when selecting late in the draft. This season, Smith is averaging 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game, shooting 41.7% from the field and 42% from deep.

With Anfernee Simons’ future unclear, Boston may seek to add cost-controlled talent at the guard position. If Smith is still on the board when the Celtics make their selection, he could make sense for a franchise retooling on the fly and seeking low-cost contributors.

Wasserman has likened Smith’s game to Dennis Schroder’s, and if there’s one thing the current roster needs, it’s a guard who can orchestrate the offense out of the pick-and-roll. Whether Smith would be good enough to earn a spot on Joe Mazzulla’s bench quickly is another question entirely. Fortunately for Smith, he has the rest of the collegiate season to continue proving himself.