For the past decade, the Boston Celtics roster has shifted time and time again. They’ve been in pursuit of a championship ever since Isaiah Thomas was leading the way. And this past season, they finally achieved their goal. But this core won’t last forever.
Obviously, Al Horford’s retirement is the most pressing matter for Boston. He’s 38 years old and could choose to hang up his sneakers at any point.
That said, Jrue Holiday is also getting up there. Boston just signed him to a four-year extension, but he’s already 34 years old. The Celtics should be planning for life without him as soon as possible.
Whoever they take may not play right away, but here are five potential Holiday replacements the Celtics could target in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Also, it’s important to note that nobody coming out of college will compare to Holiday. All of these options are merely project pieces the Celtics could hope to build into someone similar to the two-time All-Star in terms of skill set.
1. Tyrese Proctor, Duke
While looking for a potential Holiday replacement, the first thing to remember is that they likely won’t see the floor much until the Celtics guard retires. That’s the category Proctor falls under.
Listed at 6-foot-5, the 20-year-old will be entering his junior year at Duke this upcoming season. He played big minutes in each of his first two seasons, but heading back for a third year will help him cement his draft stock. He’s currently projected to be a late-first/early-second-round pick.
Last season, Proctor appeared in 32 games for the Blue Devils, playing 30.4 minutes per contest. He averaged 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the three-point line.
Proctor has the size and talent to be a solid defender at the NBA level, and if he can elevate all of his skills to their highest levels, he could be a solid project for Boston to help replace Holiday.
2. Kylan Boswell, Illinois
The last four players on this list are all projected to go undrafted, but their skill sets look like they could match up beautifully with Holiday’s. Boston should prioritize that over general draft ranking.
Kylan Boswell spent his first two collegiate seasons with Arizona but transferred to Illinois for the upcoming year. He’s on the smaller side at 6-foot-2 but makes up for it with impressive defensive instincts.
This past year, Boswell appeared in 36 games for the Wildcats, playing 26.9 minutes per contest. He averaged 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 39.6% from the floor and 37.9% from beyond the three-point line.
3. Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
This may be the most intriguing option on this list, as Bruce Thornton is an ideal build to play a role similar to Holiday’s in the NBA. That said, he’s not projected to be picked in the upcoming draft by most outlets.
He’s heading into his third season at Ohio State and last year, he appeared in 35 games, playing 33.6 minutes per contest. Thornton averaged 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 42.7% from the floor and 33.3% from behind the three-point line.
At 6-foot-2, Thornton is on the shorter side, but he’s also 215 lbs. He’s a big, bulky guard who throws his size around on the defensive end, and that’s a great place to start.
4. Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
Keshon Gilbert began his college career with UNLV, but after two seasons there, he transferred to Iowa State for the 2023-24 season. He’ll be wrapping up his four years with the Cyclones this season.
At 6-foot-4 and 200 lbs, Gilbert is the perfect size to be a combo guard at the NBA level, and he has the skills to play that role, too. He’s an adept defender and can do a bit of everything on offense.
This past year, Gilbert appeared in 37 games and played 30.9 minutes per contest. He averaged 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field and 34.% from beyond the arc.
5. Jaeden Zackery, Clemson
In his sophomore season at Boston College, Jaeden Zackery was one of eight players to earn a vote for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2 guard will be playing for Clemson this year after a freshman year with Chipola in Florida and three with the Eagles.
Zackery is on the older side, but his defensive talent and impressive three-point shooting make him an ideal target for Boston to snag as a project player.
Last year with Boston College, Zackery appeared in 36 games, playing 33.8 minutes per contest. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 48.4% from the floor and 40.5% from distance.