Celtics Predicted To Draft Young Big 12 Forward After Missing On Giannis Antetokounmpo originally appeared on NESN.
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The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is finally here, and the Celtics currently hold the 27th pick. Boston missed out on a chance to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo on Monday, which means it might look to add frontcourt help during the draft.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo published a mock draft on Tuesday and has the Celtics taking Arizona forward Koa Peat.
“Peat did not earn a green room invitation, but he has a good deal of interest in the 20s,” Woo wrote. “Concerns around his shooting mechanics have been a primary issue since the combine and are the main factor that has hurt his standing. Boston, with a strong player development track record, might be able to get the most out of him.
“The Celtics were in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo but came in second. Other teams have speculated that Jaylen Brown could still be on the move, now that Boston has clearly signaled his availability.”
Peat played only one season at Arizona, appearing in 36 games and averaging 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. It was somewhat surprising that Peat decided to enter the NBA this season. He will likely need a year or two to develop before he can be thrown into major minutes in the NBA.
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