Victor Wembanyama’s ex-teammate could be perfect Celtics NBA Draft target

It's heavy-handed to label Jayson Tatum's Achilles tear as ending an era of Boston Celtics basketball where the Eastern Conference Finals became an annual trip.

It's more likely than not that Tatum and Jaylen Brown will reopen Boston's window of championship contention when the former returns.

"There's nothing about an Achilles rupture that should prevent him from coming back better than he was before," Dr. Kevin Stone, an orthopedic surgeon and leading expert in Achilles tendon repair, told this author while discussing the road ahead for Tatum. 

However, while there's optimism about his and the team's future, Tatum's injury was franchise-altering. Facing the prospect of the soon-to-be four-time All-NBA First Team selection missing next season, staying over the second apron is impossible to justify.

The Celtics cannot use the taxpayer mid-level exception, which could've helped them remain afloat without Tatum. They can only trade the 28th overall pick in this year's draft, plus one of their first-round selections in 2026 or 2027, and a 2030 pick swap. They've parted with their 2028 and 2029 first-round draft capital. Boston cannot trade its 2031 pick since its 2032 first-round selection is frozen.

Adding contributors on rookie contracts has never mattered more for the Celtics than in their current predicament under this more punitive collective bargaining agreement.

As Hardwood Houdini continues its deep dive into prospects who could grow into fixtures in Boston, here's a comprehensive breakdown of Stanford center Maxime Raynaud and whether he's a good fit for the Celtics.

Getting to know Maxime Raynaud

Raynaud, who stands at seven-foot-one, told Rafael Barlowe of Locked On NBA Big Board that his first love was swimming. He didn't take up basketball until he neared high school.

"Very rapidly, everything came together," said Raynaud. Aiding in his accelerated development was a season spent teaming with Victor Wembanyama for Espoirs Nanterre.

In his senior season at Stanford University, the Paris, France native became the program's first player to earn All-American accolades since 2015.

Raynaud averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds in the 2024-25 campaign. He was reliable at the free-throw line, converting on 77 percent of his attempts and from beyond the arc. The Cardinal's center capitalized on 34.7 percent of his 5.5 three-point attempts. His 67 threes this season are the second most by a seven-footer in NCAA history, trailing only Lauri Markkanen [69].

According to the Stanford athletics database, Raynaud is the first major conference player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds with more than 50 made threes in a season since Kevin Durant in 2006-07 and Carmelo Anthony in 2002-03.

Raynaud's strengths and weaknesses

Let's start with the offensive end of the floor, where Raynaud finishes well with both hands, allowing him to operate effectively from either block. He can face up and shoot over defenders and demonstrates soft touch on his jump hook, one of his favorite moves around the basket.

Raynaud also fits the modern NBA as a center capable of spacing the floor and popping behind the three-point line after screening for ball handlers.

He's even comfortable putting the ball on the deck and has shown the vision, touch, and needle-threading abilities as a passer to earn trust as an offensive hub, receiving the ball around the elbows.

Raynaud's also a crucial contributor to winning on the margins. He excels at generating extra possessions. In his senior season, he grabbed nearly three offensive rebounds per contest. He also had a 9.3 percent offensive rebounding rate.

Elevating the floor of a team that loves to fire away from beyond the arc like the Celtics would add to why he'd fit well in Boston.

At the defensive end of the floor, Raynaud's primarily a drop big who utilizes his size and length to swallow up shots and deter the ones he doesn't get a hand on. The Stanford center swatted 1.4 shots per contest in his final collegiate campaign and accumulated an impressive 4.3 percent block rate.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony labeled Raynaud one of the "big winners' at the combine, noting he paired his rim-protecting prowess with the ability to hedge screens to the three-point line. It's an encouraging sign of him evolving into a more dynamic pick-and-roll defender.

Givony also declared Raynaud, who boasts a pterodactyl-like wingspan stretching over seven feet and a nine-foot-two standing reach, was among the top performers during scrimmages.

Raynaud is among the most skilled centers in this draft class. However, a primary concern is the need for him to get stronger in his lower base. His two-way skillset shined in one-on-one collegiate battles against the likes of Duke's Khaman Maluach. The latter enters this draft as another top prospect at the pivot.

However, smaller centers, who could dig underneath Raynaud, made him uncomfortable, got him off-balance, and reduced his offensive impact.

Shooting 53 percent from inside the arc and below 35 percent from beyond the three-point line also reflects the importance of him sharpening his strengths at the next level.

Is Raynaud a fit for the Celtics?

Raynaud's projected range suggests a significant chance he's available when Boston comes on the clock at pick No. 28 -- barring a trade. The same goes for him remaining on the board when it's time to utilize the 32nd selection.

If the Celtics turn in a card with Raynaud's name on it, the franchise and their fan base should feel good about it.

Adding a seven-footer whose game is growing rapidly as he acclimates to a sport he hasn't played for long brings youth to a position of need. Even if Al Horford and Luke Kornet return, Boston must add depth at center. There will be minutes available for Raynaud to develop.

His rim protection and the defensive versatility displayed at the combine would make him a welcome addition to Joe Mazzulla's system at that end of the floor. He's also an excellent fit offensively, given his ability to space the floor, extend possessions, produce points around the basket, and facilitate from the elbows.

The Celtics drafting Raynaud would represent a pick made at the crossroads of where best available and addressing a position of need intersect.