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Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens during a game against the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025
The Boston Celtics have continued to reinforce their contender status despite the ongoing absence of Jayson Tatum, compiling an impressive 39-20 record.
With Jaylen Brown carrying a greater offensive burden, Nikola Vucevic providing stability in the frontcourt, and Tatum progressing towards a potential return from a long-term Achilles injury, Boston remains firmly positioned for a strong late-season push towards another championship.
At the same time, the organization’s long-term outlook remains firmly in focus.
Boston Celtics Eye Draft as Crucial Tool for Long-Term Sustainability
With Brown, Tatum, and Derrick White already accounting for significant portions of Boston’s long-term salary structure, and Vucevic potentially joining them if he re-signs in unrestricted free agency, financial flexibility could soon become limited.
That reality places added importance on the 2026 NBA Draft. It offers a valuable opportunity to inject young, cost-controlled talent into the roster while maintaining championship ambitions.
Boston controls its future draft capital and currently projects to select near the end of the first-round.
In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report analyst Jonathan Wasserman projected the Celtics to select Texas guard Dailyn Swain with the 27th overall pick.
Through 28 games this season as a junior, Swain is averaging 18.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting an efficient 56.2% from the field and 32.9% from three-point range.
The 6-foot-8 guard previously spent two seasons at Xavier between 2023 and 2025 before entering the NCAA transfer portal and emerging as one of Texas’ most impactful players.
“Dailyn Swain is up to 17.9 points per game, using mostly a combination of ball-handling, athleticism and paint touch,” Wasserman wrote. “Scouts are now talking about a potential first-round pick.”
“His shooting remains iffy, which for a third-year wing will turn some teams off. However, the ability to create for himself, finish, pass and make plays defensively should lead to plenty of suitors.”
Rising Draft Stock Highlights Swain’s Two-Way Potential
Swain’s rapid development has significantly elevated his draft profile.
Sports Illustrated’s Derek Parker described him as “one of the fastest-rising players in the 2026 NBA Draft class” and noted that he’s “having the greatest self creation season we’ve ever seen from a prospect before.”
The 20-year-old has already surpassed the 30-point mark twice this season, including a dominant 34-point performance against Mississippi State in January.
In that outing, he shot 10-of-18 from the field, knocked down two three-pointers, and converted 12-of-15 free throws, while adding a season-high 14 rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
His rare size for a guard has translated into consistent production across multiple areas. He has recorded six double-digit rebounding games and eight contests with at least three steals, highlighted by a five-steal performance against Georgia in late January.
“Swain was always an athletic wing defender with a great frame (6’8, 225 pounds), and he’s continued to shine on the defensive end at Texas while taking a bigger offensive jump,” SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell wrote in January.
“Swain is a true slasher now who has made 70 percent of his shots at the rim with 83 percent of those looks coming unassisted… his driving and passing look better than ever, and he’s also impacted the game on the margins.”
Swain’s combination of size, athleticism, and defensive versatility gives him clear two-way upside, particularly for a contender like Boston that values adaptable perimeter players.
While late first-round selections often carry uncertainty, the Celtics have built a reputation for maximizing value deep in the draft.
Recent success stories, including Amari Williams as a 2025 second-round pick, reinforce confidence in the front office’s ability to identify contributors.
For a Boston Celtics franchise balancing present title ambitions with long-term sustainability, players like Swain represent a critical bridge between both timelines.
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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