What the Boston Celtics were going to do with the 28th-overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft was anyone's guess after the team spent the last three days shedding salary and moving below the second apron. GM Brad Stevens has been working the phones and managed to revamp the roster entirely, moving on from Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the draft. Whether he had another big move in him was the big question on everyone's mind.
The Celtics didn't end up making a big swing. Instead, they used their late first-round pick to select Hugo Gonzalez of Real Madrid. The surprising part about 19-year-old Spanish small forward's selection, however, is the fact that the Celtics are planning to bring him over this season rather than stashing him overseas.
The Boston Celtics have selected Hugo Gonzalez with the No. 28 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 26, 2025
Celtics are keeping this pick, and bringing Gonzalez over this season, a source told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/0NfuC53eS4
Hugo Gonzalez Selection Signals the End of Jordan Walsh's Time in Boston
Gonzalez is a young and raw prospect but profiles as a strong, physical wing with good size and athleticism. Ball handling and shooting are considered to be works in progress, but the Celtics must see enough in him to want to bring him over immediately despite his limited high-level experience.
The more interesting part of this is what it means for the current Celtics roster. The six-foot-seven wing directly clashes with a few of Celtics recent draft picks. It especially complicates matters for Jordan Walsh, who has a non-guaranteed deal for the 2025-26 season.
The No. 38 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Walsh is a similar prototype to Gonzalez. He hasn't panned out in the very limited minutes he found in Boston thus far, but he also just turned 21 years old. Considering that Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser are still on the roster, the addition of Gonzalez likely means that there isn't a spot for Walsh for next season. The former Arkansas standout should still get another chance in the NBA thanks to his untapped potential and intriguing skill set, but his time in Boston may be coming to an end.