The Boston Celtics drafted Dillon Mitchell with the 40th pick in the 2026 draft, and it's easy to see why the team liked him and what he could bring down the line.
Mitchell is an insane athlete who can be a beast in transition and running downhill. He is also an NBA-ready defender who can guard multiple positions with exceptional rebounding skills (mostly because of his athleticism, explosiveness, and hops), and is a solid playmaker/passer.
(His biggest downside is that he can't shoot... at all. He shot 19.3% from deep in four collegiate seasons and was just 1-for-15 during his lone season at St. John's. He makes rookie Marcus Smart look like Stephen Curry.)
Having a lot of defensive wings is crucial in the modern NBA. But at this point, Boston might actually have too many. And with Jordan Walsh entering the final year of his rookie contract (and being a very similar player to Mitchell, just with an improved jumpshot), it's fair to wonder if he has already played his final game for the team.
Jordan Walsh still has the edge over Dillon Mitchell
Like Mitchell, Walsh was a bad shooter coming out of college (27.8% from deep in one season at Arkansas) and had the tools to be a defensive specialist at the NBA level.
The jury is still out on the Texas native after three seasons, but it's clear that he has improved his offensive game and has shown some flashes. He started 25 of his 68 games last season, shot a career-best 38.4% from beyond the arc on 1.8 attempts per game, and earned enormous praise from Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves after Boston's 126-105 victory against them on Dec. 5, 2025 (Walsh recorded 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting, four rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and an assist in 26 minutes).
"I could see him becoming one of the best defenders in the league for many years to come,” Reaves said about Walsh.
Austin Reaves told me tonight he could see Jordan Walsh becoming “one of the best defenders in the league for many years to come.” pic.twitter.com/Z89ue1yjhf
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) December 6, 2025
Walsh is turning into a legitimate contributor. Plus, he already has three NBA seasons under his belt (and is almost a year younger than Mitchell). However, at this point, it's tough to imagine him climbing the rankings in Boston (he's behind Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, and the Jays). And with him set to hit unrestricted free agency at the end of next season, it might be smart for the Celtics to move on from him and give Mitchell his spot.
After all, they have already proven they know how to develop wings in the modern era, and chances are, they'll be able to do it again.
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