Less than a week away from the 2026 NBA draft, and we just got some interesting news regarding the Boston Celtics. According to The Stein Line's Jake Fischer, Boston has tried to trade up from pick 27 in this draft.
This news comes on the heels of Boston being in the hunt to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. In any potential trade for Giannis, it would make sense that the Celtics would trade away pick 27 in this draft. So hearing that they are looking to move up makes things more interesting.
Given the Celtics' history of drafting under Brad Stevens, moving up would be different from his previous years.
Brad Stevens hasn't made high draft picks for Boston
Since joining the Celtics front office following the 2020-2021 NBA season, Stevens has never had the chance of utilizing a high draft pick. In that time, Stevens has only made two first-round selections for Boston in Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez, with Hugo being his highest selection at pick 28.
Trading up would be a first for the former head coach, who has traded first-round picks for talent or traded down in drafts. From 2021 to 2023, Stevens traded the Celtics' pick away in each of those drafts in different trades. The 2021 pick was used to bring Al Horford back to Boston, while the 2022 first-rounder was used to trade for Derrick White at the trade deadline, and the 2023 first-round pick was used to acquire Malcolm Brogdon in the 2022 offseason.
Should Boston successfully trade up in the draft, it will be interesting to see who Stevens is after, given he's always drafted near the end of the first. Some prospects who could be good fits for Boston, but are out of the team's range, could be back in play. But to trade up, Boston would need to part with more than pick 27.
Boston has two paths to move up in the draft
To trade up in the draft, Boston has two avenues to do so. In path number one, it would look to move future picks that it owns. Along with pick 27 in this draft, Boston holds the 40th pick in round two.
Except for the 2029 first, the Celtics have a first in every draft coming up. If they really wanted a prospect, trading away a future first could be a potential move to get who they want.
Boston could look to move a player in a trade-up situation instead. If a team with a higher pick has a need that a Boston player could fill, then it could send them and 27 to move up. One name that stands out to me is Sam Hauser.
The Celtics have a crowded room, with Hauser being the odd man out right now due to his contract. If the team wanted to move on, using him to trade up would be smart.
Given the Wisconsin native's impressive shooting, many teams could have an interest in him helping out spacing-wise. If a team needs to add shooting, Hauser and pick 27 could make for an interesting trade package.
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