Scouting Boston's Draft Range With 105 Hoops

Who could the Celtics target with the 27th draft pick?

The NBA Draft is 13 days away. As things stand, the Boston Celtics hold the 27th pick. Over the past two years, Brad Stevens has unearthed two key rotation players with late first-round picks.

Baylor Scheierman was selected with the 30th pick in 2024.

Hugo Gonzalez came off the board at No. 28 last summer.

So, there’s reason for us to be somewhat optimistic that Brad can go three-for-three in identifying talent that can provide some sort of impact during their rookie year, while also boasting developmental upside.

Being over here in the UK, keeping up with the draft cycle is difficult. This year was the first time I had full access to March Madness (thank you very much, Disney+). However, with my focus being on the Celtics, I find myself watching those college games as a fan, rather than whipping out the notebook and trying to analyze things.

As such, this is the time of year when I start leaning on the experts. Sure, I’ll do some deep dives here and there, especially once the Celtics have made their pick, but there’s a growing number of talent-evaluating content creators who are deep within the weeds with the draft.

Interestingly, I came across one of those creators earlier this week — a creator I hadn’t encountered before. I’m becoming a big fan of Substack Notes, so when scrolling on there, I saw Sophia Prieto recommending Lester Stewart, who runs the 105 Hoops Substack, and decided to check out his work.

Safe to say, I thought it was excellently done.

A couple of DM messages later, and Lester agreed to help me kick off this year’s draft coverage in style.

What follows is a short Q & A between myself and Lester, focusing on the upcoming draft, potential targets, and the type of talents we think the Celtics should be targeting.

We broke these questions down into two per position.

Guards

Adam: The Celtics are in need of some additional point guard depth this summer. The logical move for them is to explore the free agency and trade markets for an upgrade. However, if they can’t find what they’re looking for, due to fit or price, is there anyone who could be available around the 27th pick that could slot into the rotation and be a ready-made contributor?

Lester: If Boston is looking at guards around 27, I do not think they should be chasing the flashiest name. They need someone who can function in their system, make quick decisions, defend well enough to stay on the floor, and not mess up the spacing.

The name I keep coming back to is Bennett Stirtz.

He may not be the most explosive guard in the class, but he knows how to play. He can shoot it, make reads, play with pace, and keep the ball moving. For Boston, that matters. Mazzulla’s system is not built for a young guard to come in and dominate the ball. You must process fast, move it, and punish mistakes. Stirtz can do that.

Adam: Awesome. Stirtz is a new name for me; I’ll add him to my list of guys to watch, and, time allowing, will try to go deeper on him before the draft. But, for argument’s sake, let’s assume he’s off the board by the time the Celtics are on the clock…Do you have another guy in mind?

Meleek Thomas is another one I would watch. He is more of a scoring guard than a pure point, but he can create off the bounce and give you some real shot-making. The question with him is how quickly he can make simple reads and defend well enough to earn trust.

Adam: Ok, let’s change gears for a minute… During his end-of-season press conference, Brad Stevens hinted at the need for additional rim pressure. Can you think of a guard who could potentially slot into the rotation and fill that need…Either as a consistent drive-and-dish guy, or a reliable interior scorer off the dribble? Ideally, they would need to be at least a two-level scorer to ensure they can fit within Mazzulla’s system.

Lester: If we are talking specifically about Brad Stevens mentioning rim pressure, then Christian Anderson is probably the better fit for that part of the conversation. He brings more burst. He can get into the paint, collapse a defense, and create some drive-and-kick opportunities. That is something Boston could use, especially off the bench.

So, if I am Boston, I look at it like this:

• Bennett Stirtz is the safest guard if you want someone who can be trusted early.

• Christian Anderson is the best rim-pressure choice.

• Meleek Thomas gives you the most scoring upside if he falls.

If the Celtics are trying to find a guard who can help right away, I would lean Stirtz. If they are trying to specifically solve the rim-pressure issue, I would lean Anderson.

Wings

Boston’s wing rotation is both deep and talented. I’m not sold that adding another rookie wing would be the right move, especially as the rookie would face an uphill battle to crack the Celtics rotation.

However, we’ve all cracked jokes about Brad Stevens’ wing factory over the past year, so who knows… With multiple players waiting on the Celtics to make a decision over their team options, things can quickly change.

Adam: Similar to the guard position, the Celtics could need someone who is ready and capable of providing reliable minutes in a pinch. Does anyone come to mind?

Lester: I am not sure a wing should be the priority for Boston unless the value is too good to pass up. And even then, you have two All-NBA players at that position, so you would stunt the growth of a young wing. They already have a lot of bodies on the wing, and for a rookie to crack that rotation, he has to bring something specific. He cannot just be a “good prospect.” He has to either shoot it, defend, process, or bring real positional versatility.

Adam: I agree.

Lester: The names I would look at are Alex Karaban, Joshua Jefferson, & Isaiah Evans

Karaban makes a lot of sense because he knows how to play & he is a name Celtics fan can identify with due to his playing days at UConn. He spaces the floor, cuts, moves the ball, and does not need a lot of touches. That matters on a team like Boston. He is not a lockdown defender, but he is usually in the right spots and understands how to play within structure

Adam: Same sketch as with the guards; let’s assume Karaban is off the table. Is there another name that stands out to you as a potentially good fit on the wing, assuming Boston makes a tough call with Jordan Walsh or Ron Harper Jr.

Lester: Joshua Jefferson might be the best connector forward in that range. He is strong, physical, can pass, rebound, defend multiple spots, and play a low-maintenance role. He may not be a true 3-and-D wing, but he gives Boston some of the glue stuff that wins games.

Adam: As with most coaches, defense is the quickest way to earn playing time under Joe Mazzulla. Yet, a one-dimensional defender would struggle to command a consistent role in the rotation - which is why I think Jordan Walsh was in and out of the lineup last season. Are there any prototypical 3-and-D wings that could be hovering around Boston’s 27th pick range, and if so, would they need some developmental time in Maine or be good to go?

Lester: Isaiah Evans is probably the better 3-and-D upside swing. He has size, shot-making, and length. I would not say he is fully ready defensively on day one, but the tools are there.

Adam: So, if for some reason the Celtics found themselves selecting a wing on draft night, what order would you put these guys in?

Lester: If Boston wants someone who could give minutes in a pinch, I would look at Karaban or Jefferson.

If they want more of a 3-and-D upside play, I would look at Evans.

But I would not force a wing at 27. The player would have to clearly be the best value on the board.

Bigs

Adam: In an ideal world, Morez Johnson Jr would fall to 27, and the Celtics would have a no-brainer draft pick. We don’t live in an ideal world, though. I think the center rotation is among the biggest needs for the Celtics to address this summer, and while I doubt they find an upgrade over Neemias Queta this late in the draft.

I do wonder whether they can stumble across a viable big to soak up some playing time behind Luka Garza as a 3-string guy with a view to them developing into a key rotation member down the line...Who do you think could be in that range?

Lester: This is where I think Boston needs to pay real attention.

Morez Johnson falling to 27 feels unlikely because his game checks too many boxes NBA teams value: motor, physicality, rebounding, defensive versatility, and a body ready to compete early.

For Boston, he makes a lot of sense — he gives them frontcourt toughness, mobile defense, rim pressure as a finisher, and the type of dirty-work impact that fits winning basketball. But if the Celtics are serious about him, they cannot wait at 27; they would have to trade up and get him.

Adam: Figures. I certainly have him listed as my dream draft target, rather than as someone I think the Celtics could actually have a shot at landing if they stood pat at 27.

Anyway…

Since the moment the Celtics’ season ended, I’ve consistently been discussing the need for defensive optionality at the 5. Currently, the Celtics have a duo of drop bigs. Both can play up-to-touch a little, and Garza can hedge and recover if needed.

However, neither possesses the mobility to operate in a true switch 1-through-5 system, nor to play at the level for consistent stretches of games.

Is there someone else who could specifically plug that gap in the rotation?

Lester: Zuby Ejiofor is one of my favorite fits for them. He may not have perfect size for a full-time NBA 5, but he plays hard, rebounds, protects the rim, and has enough mobility to give Boston more defensive options.

He is not just a drop big. He can move his feet, play with force, and cover ground.

Adam: I also know there’s some solid size in this draft. If Mazzulla and Stevens are sold on having more traditional-style bigs, albeit with some interesting skill set variations, who do you think would fit the mold while also being available when the Celtics are on the clock?

Lester: Tarris Reed Jr. is probably the safer traditional center option. Another UConn player that fans can identify with. He gives you size, physicality, screening, rebounding, and some rim protection. I do not see him as a true switch big, but as a third center who can develop behind the rotation, he makes sense.

Also, Henri Veesaar could give them a different look. He has size, touch, and some skill. He is not the same type of defensive-mobility answer, but he is interesting as a developmental frontcourt piece.

The biggest thing for me is this: Boston does not just need another big body. They need defensive optionality. They already have drop bigs. What they need is someone who can play higher, move laterally, switch in spots, protect the rim, and control angles. That is what they lost with Al Horford. It was not just the shooting. It was the defensive IQ, positioning, communication, and ability to keep the defense connected.

Adam: Great minds, man. Great minds.

I’m right there with you on that train of thought!

But let me ask you this: it seems we’re both of the big-man-via-draft mindset for Boston; do you have any sleeper picks?

Lester: Luigi Suigo — Suigo is a worthwhile swing at 27 because the size, touch, passing flashes, and shooting upside are hard to find that late. But for Boston specifically, the question is whether they want a developmental ceiling play or a more ready defensive big.

If the Celtics need immediate playoff rotation help, Suigo may be too raw. If they are willing to invest a year or two, he has the tools to become a valuable modern center.

Adam: How would you list these picks in order of priority for the Celtics?

Lester: Zuby Ejiofor is the most realistic big I would target in that range.

DREAM PICK: Morez Johnson — motor, physicality, rebounding, defensive versatility, and a body ready to compete early

DARK HORSE: Luigi Suigo — long-term frontcourt investment, rather than a day-one rotation big.

Zooming Out

Adam: Ok, let’s zoom back out now. We’ve got a bunch of names here — some of which I need to do my homework on — but I’m intrigued to know how you would position these guys if you were putting together a big board of Boston’s targets on draft night.

Lester: If I had to build a Boston board around pick 27, it would look like this:

1. Bennett Stirtz — safest guard fit

2. Christian Anderson — best rim-pressure guard

3. Zuby Ejiofor — best realistic mobile big fit

4. Tarris Reed Jr. — safest traditional center depth

5. Alex Karaban — safest wing fit

6. Joshua Jefferson — best connector wing/forward

…For Boston, I would not draft just for need. But if the right player is there, they can address a real hole.

If they want trust and maturity, go Stirtz or Karaban.

If they want rim pressure, go Anderson.

If they want frontcourt defense and mobility, go Zuby.

That is where I would be looking.

Wrapping up

I’m really grateful to Lester for sharing his time with me, and helping me get the first installment of draft coverage off the ground. He’s clearly putting in the work when evaluating talent, and I’m sure that by this time next year his Substack will be flying, and I’ll have a hard time nailing him down to do this again.

If you’re into draft content, Lester is worth the subscription.

Now, I turn this over to you — who do you like in Boston’s range of the draft? Has Lester piqued your interest with a new name?

Let me know in the comments!