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Boston Celtics’ Brad Stevens prior to a game against the Miami Heat in May 2022
The Boston Celtics have shown little sign of slowing down, and with Jayson Tatum back in the lineup, they increasingly look like a team capable of chasing a second championship in three seasons.
Boston currently sits second in the Eastern Conference with a 43-22 record and trails the first-place Detroit Pistons by just 3.5 games after Detroit’s recent stumble.
While the immediate focus remains on playoff positioning and the pursuit of the top seed in the East, attention has also begun to quietly turn toward what could be an important offseason for the franchise.
Boston Celtics Balancing Title Ambitions With Future Planning
With Jaylen Brown, Tatum and Derrick White already occupying significant portions of Boston’s long-term payroll, the team’s financial flexibility could tighten in the coming years, particularly if Nikola Vucevic returns in unrestricted free agency.
That financial outlook places added importance on the 2026 NBA Draft.
For a team determined to remain a contender year after year, the draft provides a reliable way to add affordable talent without compromising roster flexibility.
Boston retains control of its future draft capital and is currently projected to select towards the back end of the first round.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo projected the Celtics selecting Duke center Patrick Ngongba II with the 26th overall pick.
Ngongba, a 6-foot-11 big man, is averaging 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks through 29 games this season while shooting an efficient 60.2 percent from the field.
“Scouts are divided on Ngongba: He has intrinsic strengths that make him well-suited as a modern center, as a plus passer and interior defender. But he’s also a below-average run-jump athlete who needs to get more out of his frame (6-11),” Woo wrote.
“His defensive instincts and feel for the game could give him utility, but some scouts feel he’s not ready for NBA physicality and would benefit from more time in college.”
Ngongba is currently set to miss the ACC tournament due to right foot soreness, and it remains unclear whether he will return in time for the NCAA tournament.
Patrick Ngongba II Emerging as Intriguing Draft Prospect
Ngongba saw limited minutes during his freshman season in 2024-25 but has taken on a larger role following the departure of Duke center Khaman Maluach, who was selected 10th in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The 20-year-old has gradually grown into a more prominent contributor in Duke’s rotation this season.
His season-high stands at 17 points, a mark he has reached twice, most recently during a January win over Southern Methodist.
Earlier in December, Ngongba delivered one of his most complete performances of the season against Florida, finishing with 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and five blocks.
Woo noted that Ngongba’s performances through March, if he returns to action, could significantly influence his draft position with “a number of more league-ready centers potentially available in this 20-40 range.”
Still, the Duke big man’s long-term potential has kept him firmly in late first-round discussions, with some earlier mock drafts projecting him in the middle of the round.
“Ngongba has turned into a weirdly polarizing player for scouts, with some very strongly appreciating his well-rounded game on both ends and thinking it will translate exceedingly well,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie recently wrote.
While late first-round picks always carry some risk, the Boston Celtics’ recent draft history suggests the organization is comfortable finding value in that range.
Selections such as Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez in recent years have demonstrated the front office’s ability to identify productive contributors outside the lottery.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
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