Boston Celtics add Duke forward with 27th pick in latest mock draft

The Boston Celtics head into the offseason armed with the 27th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Brad Stevens has found some hidden gems in recent years, with Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez, both late first-round picks, playing important roles for Joe Mazzulla's team this past season. Now, all eyes will be on Stevens to see whether he can pinpoint another young talent that's ready to contribute as part of Boston's bench unit. In his latest mock draft, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie has pinpointed Isaiah Evans, a 6-foot-6 wing out of Duke, as a potential pickup for the Celtics. Evans has just wrapped up his second season in the collegiate ranks, having started all 38 of Duke's games, averaging 15 points, 3.2 boards and 1.3 assists per night.

"Evans had a strong close to the season up until his final game, helping Duke reach the Elite Eight," Vecenie wrote. "He averaged 15 points per game while shooting 43 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3, but over his final 15 games, he averaged 16.5 points while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3 on over eight 3-point attempts per game. Evans is a dynamic shooter off movement who worked really well with Boozer both in ball screens and as a screener, then also ran off many off-ball screens himself." Stevens willingness to draft longer-tenured college players has paid dividends in recent seasons. Players who have spent three, four or even five years in the collegiate system often enter the NBA with a higher floor, making them ideal long-term role players if they can adapt to the rigors of the NBA game.

Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Isaiah Evans (3) reacts after a basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images An encouraging aspect of Evans' game is that he showed significant growth between his freshman and sophomore seasons, something Vecenie touched on in his evaluation. "Evans expanded his game in a big way this year as a driver, too, going from taking 81 percent of his shots from 3 as a freshman to 65 percent of his shots from 3 while taking four attempts inside the line per game," Vecenie continued. "He also got a bit more physically stronger on defense, although he still has some room to grow." The Celtics are an organization that places significant value on hard work and the commitment needed to improve. Evans' growth, coupled with his experience at Duke, could make him an enticing prospect come draft night. The only downside is that Boston's wing rotation is already loaded, meaning Evans would face an uphill battle in trying to break into the rotation. Watch or listen to the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on: YouTube:  Spotify:  Apple:  Substack:  *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *