The Celtics' front office is working overtime this offseason. The rumor mill is in overdrive. Brad Stevens may need to be putting in even more hours because on First Take, Brian Windhorst went on record saying that the "NBA offseason is going to happen faster than normal" (h/t ClutchSports).
Part of the job of the front office has been number crunching and finding ways to improve the current roster and potentially save cap space. The other part has been evaluating talent for the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25th and 26th.
The fine folks at HoopsHype aggregate all reported pre-draft workouts. As of June 8th, the Celtics have reportedly held 16 individual workouts. The Celtics hold the 28th and 32nd picks in the draft, so they are looking at prospects who may not make an immediate impact or have one high-end skill. Typically, these picks end up at the end of the bench or in the G-League or overseas to continue to develop.
With so many moving parts this offseason, these workouts may give fans an insight into the thought process in Boston. Or it could tell us absolutely nothing, and none of these players could end up in green and white. In looking at the names on that workout list, there are five things we can say for sure:
1. Celtics are looking at more seasoned prospects
Of the 16 players the Celtics have worked out, ten of them are seniors, and three more are juniors. The Celtics are looking at more "finished" products. This can be a good and bad thing. Juniors and seniors tend to be closer to their finished products, but there can be limited upside.
In evaluating these players, the Celtics may be able to establish where these players will fit on the roster and organization should they join the team. The Celtics may be looking for someone who can immediately join the roster. A full roster teardown may be overstated. While the Celtics likely won't be real contenders next season, having someone ready to contribute in 2026-27 may be Brad Stevens' MO.
2. The lack of big men may mean the Celtics will try to retain their frontcourt
The Celtics roster is depleted of big men. Al Horford and Luke Kornet are both free agents, leaving Kristaps Porzingis and Neemias Queta as the only other players who played any significant time at center. The Celtics' G-League team, only boast two centers and neither James Banks nor Kavion Pippen appears to be NBA-ready.
So why are the Celtics not evaluating more big men, particularly those in the range of 25-35 on draft boards? The plan may be to bring back either Horford or Kornet. Maybe the rumors of of the end of Kristaps Porzingis' tenure are overblown. Either way, it is odd that the Celtics are not looking at additional depth in the frontcourt, considering the rise of "Twin Towers" lineups.
3. Mostly obscure or unranked prospects are fodder for the Summer League
Prospect rankings can be in the eye of the beholder, so take them with a grain of salt. The difference between the 50th-ranked prospect and prospect No. 125 can be minuscule in the NBA. Based on the prospect workouts, HoopsHype shows the Celtics have worked out four of the top 75 prospects. Notably, these are all seniors, and three of them are guards.
It could be that the Celtics saw something in these unranked prospects at the combine or on tape and want a closer look, or it could mean that they are closer to filling an immediate role than an underclassman may be. Either way, this list reads more like a Summer League roster than potential draft picks.
4. Whoever is drafted is likely expected to contribute soon
One of the hallmarks of high-salaried contenders is the "draft and stash". Teams can hold the rights to a player while not absorbing the salary cap hit. Considering where the Celtics sit cap-wise, it might be wise to adopt this approach, even with the draft picks holding a limited cap hit. However, the Celtics appear not to even be looking at the international pool of players.
This reiterates the feeling that the Celtics may want their draft pick to join the team in the fall.
5. The Cedric Coward workout could mean the Celtics are looking to move up
HoopsHype's aggregated mock draft shows Coward being taken 15th overall, but also lists his ranking as high as 12 and low as 30. Again, the ranking is in the eye of the beholder.
Does Brad Stevens believe that Coward will be available at 28? It seems unlikely considering his aggregated spot and being the 15th-ranked prospect. The Celtics may be looking to move up in the draft as part of their offseason plans. Coward projects as a modern three-and-D forward with 40% shooting from downtown. That fits head coach Joe Mazzulla's strategy. Coward could be an option to replace some of the minutes vacated by Jayson Tatum this season if the Celtics choose to go get Coward.
Bringing it all together, the Celtics appear to be in the market for a college upperclassman who plays on the wing. That projects to be a player who is a nearly finished project, won't take a significant time to develop, and can potentially contribute in some fashion this year. How does that impact the rest of the offseason plans? And whose role could that newly drafted Celtic be taking?
Celtics May Be Targeting a Sam Hauser Trade
Stevens and the new ownership group are committed to bringing titles to Boston. That means drafting players that can contribute today, and the rest of the team should be built to win. That may not mean a championship this coming season, but certainly when Tatum returns. These workouts look to be in line with replacing a three-and-D wing. The notable name that fits the bill on the roster today would be Sam Hauser.
While he was a key contributor, the Celtics have Baylor Scheierman on the roster. Even if the 28th and 32nd picks aren't ready to play a role today, Scheierman should be ready to take on some of Hauser's minutes. Hauser has the highest cap hit of any wing not named Jaylen Brown, and moving on from him will help ease some of the tax burden.
It's unfortunate, but if some of the names on this workout list are called on June 25th and 26th, Hauser's time in Boston may be numbered.