Exploring who the Celtics might target if they move up in the draft

The Boston Celtics enter this year's draft armed with picks No. 28 and 32. The prudent move for the franchise is getting under the second apron by the end of the upcoming league year.

Accomplishing that means shedding a hefty salary. Jrue Holiday, who recently turned 35, is on the books for $32.4 million for the 2025-26 campaign. He has $104.4 million left on his contract. His deal lasts through the 2027-28 season.

Kristaps Porzingis has a $30.7 million cap hit next year. Given that he's on an expiring arrangement, perhaps Boston could move him without attaching draft capital.

However, when push comes to shove, the Celtics may wind up parting with a pick to trim payroll in the name of getting under the second apron. The consequences of not doing so in a season Jayson Tatum might spend rehabbing after tearing his Achilles seem too severe.

What if the Celtics traded up at the draft?

It's possible Boston parts with future draft capital and holds onto this year's selections. Given the uncertainty of picking prospects, the organization could opt for two cracks at the can.

After all, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded up in the 2022 NBA Draft to select Ousmane Dieng 11th overall. Thankfully for them, they also had the 12th pick, which they used on Jalen Williams.

There's also an argument for shipping their second-round pick for one down the road. That could prove prescient. But maybe they employ a more aggressive tactic.

Performing their due diligence means seeing how far they can move up in the first round by packaging their picks. According to Grant Afseth of RG.org, the 18-time NBA champions are exploring that possibility as "part of a broader strategy to add cost-controlled backcourt depth as the team navigates one of the NBA's most restrictive cap situations.

"Boston faces significant luxury tax and second-apron penalties due to its high-salary core, and landing a rotation-level guard on a rookie contract is viewed internally as a strategic priority."

Who might the Celtics target if they move up?

If the goal is drafting a rotation-level guard, based on how far Boston could realistically move up by packaging this year's picks, the player who makes the most sense in that scenario is Walter Clayton Jr.

HoopsHype's aggregate mock draft has him going 25th overall. The Florida native was an NCAA Tournament darling, leading the Gators to the national championship.

As detailed in Hardwood Houdini's scouting report on Clayton, the six-foot-three combo guard is an elite shooter. While he doesn't have the ball-handling skills of someone like Payton Pritchard, the individual named the Most Outstanding Player in this year's NCAA Tournament can effectively operate on and off the ball.

Clayton checks the boxes the Celtics emphasize offensively. He brings shooting, facilitating, and the ability to make plays off the dribble, all at an impactful level.

While his size and the need to be more consistently engaged on defense are concerns one shouldn't gloss over, he'd give Boston a microwave scorer off the bench.

Clayton knocked down 40 percent of his catch-and-shoot attempts from beyond the arc last season. He capitalized on 37.1 percent of his three-point attempts off the dribble.

The Celtics may be wise for drafting a prospect at another position if they move up. However, if the goal is to add a rotation-level guard, based on the options packaging picks No. 28 and 32 affords them, bringing Clayton to Boston makes sense.