Barring any potential trades, the Boston Celtics will own picks No. 28 and 32 in the 2025 NBA Draft. It’s an awkward range for them to be picking in. Many of the draft’s best big men will be off the board, and the same can be said for the top guards. That leaves an eclectic pool of players for Boston to choose from.
In preparation for my Celtics big board, I looked at four different mock drafts (Yahoo, The Athletic, ESPN, and CBS Sports) to determine the average draft position for every prospect. Any player whose ADP was 25 or higher was eligible for this Celtics board.
For context, my five favorite prospects who fell just below that range are Cedric Coward (16.75 ADP), Danny Wolf (22.25), Nique Clifford (20.25), Asa Newell (19.0), and Thomas Sorber (19.5).
With that in mind, here are the top five prospects the Celtics should snag if they stay in their current draft position.
My official Celtics big board for the 2025 NBA Draft pic.twitter.com/OhzwxJGn6d
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) June 20, 2025
5. Kam Jones, Marquette
Following an impressive four-year career with the Golden Eagles, Kam Jones will enter the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most complete offensive guards in the class.
He can handle the ball, he can pass, he can playmake, and his one-handed finishing around the rim is one of the most impressive individual skills out of any player in the draft. If placed in the right situation, Jones could make an immediate impact at the NBA level.
The biggest question marks for Jones are his three-point shot and his defense. Jones’ jumper is solid, but his efficiency took a dip as a senior. However, a lot of his numbers varied because he went from playing next to Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro to running the show on his own.
Meanwhile, Jones is a solid defender, but he likely won’t be a massive plus on that end of the floor. He’ll thrive in a team-defense situation, and his lack of athleticism could hold him back.
Still, as an older prospect who simply knows how to play the game, Jones would make a great Celtic.
4. Drake Powell, UNC
Though Drake Powell spent just one season at UNC (and didn’t put up crazy stats), his NBA measurables are off the charts. He’s roughly 6-foot-5 and has a 7-foot wingspan that he uses to its fullest extent.
Powell is a freakish defender, capable of blocking shots in a help role or hounding ball-handlers by incessantly poking away their dibble. He should instantly be able to carve out a solid defensive role at the NBA level.
Offensively, he’s comfortable getting into the mid-range, pulling up, and nailing shots, and he does a great job of keeping the ball high when finishing at the rim. Powell’s three-point shot is the biggest question mark in his game.
Though he shot fairly well in his lone season at North Carolina, he has a relatively slow jump shot with a hitch right before he launches the ball. Powell also shot just 64.8% from the free-throw line, which doesn’t necessarily bode well for his jumper.
However, his defensive tools, 43-inch vertical, and untapped potential would make him a very intriguing pick for Boston.
3. Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
Many of the best big men in the class are projected to be off the board by the time the Celtics are picking, but Maxime Raynaud could still be available. The Stanford center spent four years in college and improved every season.
This past year, he was an impressive paint protector and led the ACC in rebounding. He’s a massive body inside and should be an immediate shot-blocking threat in the NBA.
Raynaud also got up 5.5 three-point attempts per game during his senior season, shooting 34.7%. The Frenchman has a solid jump shot with a high release, so there’s some hope that his three-point success should translate.
As is the case with most big men, Raynaud could have some trouble moving on the perimeter, leading to him getting targeted at the NBA level. He’s a stingy defender in drop, but outside of that, he could run into some problems.
The big man sets solid screens and can finish around the rim and in the mid-range, but he projects to be a solid role player. But for a team like the Celtics, that’s not a bad thing.
2. Rasheer Fleming, St. Joseph’s
While most college players entering the draft enjoyed a high-usage role last season, that wasn’t the case with Rasheer Fleming, even though he went to a smaller school. Fleming was a full-time role player for the Hawks.
The 6-foot-8 forward spends most of his time cutting off the ball, running to the rim out of pick-and-roll scenarios, and spotting up for catch-and-shoot opportunities behind the three-point line.
His three-point efficiency took a massive leap this past season. As a sophomore, Fleming shot just 32.4% from deep on 3.0 attempts per game, but this past season, those numbers jumped to 39.0% on 4.5 attempts. Fleming’s free-throw percentage jumped with it, too (61.2% to 74.3%).
Defensively, Fleming’s impressive athleticism and ridiculous 7-foot-5 wingspan allow him to play a bunch of different roles. He’s fully capable of guarding players one-on-one in space, but he thrives in an off-ball role, shifting over to dish out monster rejections. That said, he does have a slight tendency to overcommit at times.
The biggest knock on Fleming is his lack of upside as a shot creator. Since he spent almost all of his time in college as a role player, he rarely had the ball in his hands. But just like with Raynaud, the Celtics don’t really need stars right now. They need role players. And that’s exactly what Fleming is.
1. Noah Penda, France (Le Mans)
Role player. Do-it-all upside. Ball-handling. Elite defense. High basketball IQ. Noah Penda has a little bit of everything. He played with Le Mans in France this past season, and the 20-year-old is the exact type of guy every team around the league should be itching to get its hands on.
Penda’s defense is probably the highlight of his game. He’s a big-bodied 6-foot-7 with a near-7-foot wingspan. Weighing in at 241.8 lbs, he’s capable of banging down low with big men, but he has quick enough feet to keep up with guards, too. The Frenchman is one of, if not the best, wing defenders in the class.
His impressive defense is matched by his playmaking. Penda is more than comfortable putting the ball on the floor and making plays, and he’s very adept at finding teammates from all over the court.
No matter the situation, Penda will always be one of the smartest players on the floor. From his defensive awareness to his passing to his ability to find seams within the teeth of the defense and cut to the basket for an easy bucket, he’s always on the move. Hustle is a core foundation of his game.
Penda’s three-point jump shot is the biggest worry, as his release is a tad slow. But he keeps the ball high and is a very confident shooter. He’s taken threes off the dribble and is seemingly unafraid to shoot with a hand in his face. The fundamentals of a solid jump shot are there, and he has the confidence to back it up.
If the Celtics are looking to add a high-level role player with the potential to be more than that, Penda is the guy.