Many expected the Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 season to lean towards development, particularly after Jayson Tatum suffered a long-term Achilles injury that appeared set to sideline him for the entire campaign.
Instead, the Celtics sit third in the Eastern Conference at 24-15, powered by MVP-level play from Jaylen Brown.
Even more encouraging, Tatum’s recovery has progressed faster than initially anticipated, with the All-Star forward potentially returning to basketball activities by February or March.
With that backdrop, Boston remains firmly in championship-mode rather than transition.
With a title-caliber core already established, the Celtics’ path forward is less about reinvention and more about targeted additions that enhance spacing, depth, and lineup flexibility.
That mindset is reflected in ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft, where analyst Jeremy Woo projects Boston to target a “specialist shotmaker” who could slide cleanly into the Celtics’ system and help extend their championship window.
Boston Celtics Linked to Shotmaking Wing From Duke
In Woo’s projection, Boston are slotted to select Duke guard Isaiah Evans with the 24th overall pick.
The selection fits a familiar pattern for contenders drafting late in the first-round. Identifying players with clearly defined skills who can contribute without needing time to figure out their role.
“Evans has strung together three straight big performances for Duke, which has relied on him to manufacture offense and space the court around Cam Boozer,” Woo wrote. “His fluid, dynamic movement shooting and solid positional size are nice calling cards. There is an obvious use for him in the NBA.”
Through 16 games with the Duke Blue Devils, Evans is averaging 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range.
The 20-year-old briefly tested the NBA Draft waters last year before opting to return to Duke. At 6-foot-6, he has ideal size for an NBA wing, and his smooth shooting mechanics allow him to score both off movement and in spot-up situations.
That said, Woo cautions that Evans remains a work in progress. His slender frame needs added strength, and areas beyond shooting, particularly defense and playmaking, are still developing.
As a result, he sits in a crowded late first-round tier where teams often balance immediate utility against long-term growth.
Shooting Fits Boston’s Championship Blueprint
For the Celtics, Evans’ appeal could be rooted in fit. With offensive responsibility centered on Tatum and Brown, Boston’s priority is surrounding its stars with players who can space the floor, make quick decisions, and capitalize on defensive attention without needing the ball.
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has the Duke wing projected in the second-round but similarly views him as a clean fit at the NBA-level.
“He continues to operate strictly as an off-ball scorer curling around screens and dribbling handoffs into threes and drives,” Wasserman wrote. “Evans is starting to look more like a specialist shotmaker than a high-level scoring prospect who’s going to create or play-make.”
Evans opened the new year with a season-high 28 points against Florida State, drilling six three-pointers while adding defensive flashes.
He followed that with another strong outing against Louisville and is averaging 24 points over his last three games, converting 44.3% of his three-point attempts in that stretch.
If Evans continues producing offensively and adds strength as the season progresses, his argument for remaining in the first-round should only grow.
For Boston, the projection reinforces a clear philosophy. Rather than chasing long-term projects, the Celtics appear poised to add specialists who complement their stars and reinforce what already works.
In that context, Evans represents a logical bet. Not a franchise-altering pick, but a potential rotation shooter whose skill set aligns neatly with a team still very much focused on winning now.
Celtics Projected to Land 6-Foot-6 Shooting Specialist