Built for Boston: Draft prospects who make sense for the Celtics

We are three weeks out from the NBA Draft, and with the NBA Combine in the rearview, there’s a clearer picture of the prospect pool after the league announced that 50 early-entry players withdrew their names from the draft ahead of deadline.

The Celtics’ roster situation at this stage in their offseason can best be described as fluid, with major roster changes inbound as they seek an opportunity to crawl under the second tax apron. With their own 28th overall draft selection in the first round and a 32nd overall pick in the second (courtesy of the Wizards), the Celtics have cost-effective avenues to add depth and developmental talent to the roster before the start of the free agency negotiation window on June 30.

Today, CelticsBlog staff writers Robby Fletcher, Mark Aboyoun, and Ben Paradis search for the prospects that best fit into Boston’s current roster situation in the back of the first round.

Robby’s Pick: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton – Center

At 23 years old with 169 collegiate appearances under his belt and four Big East defensive player of the year titles to his name, Ryan Kalkbrenner is a classic case of a high-floor draftee that’s as ready as he’ll ever be for NBA minutes.

A 7-foot-1, 257-pound center with a 7’6” wingspan, he’s a Goliath-sized big that’s great on the glass, strong as a rim runner, and efficient in the post. At his size, Kalkbrenner doesn’t need a ton of moves to create space with his back to the basket, though he’s adept at spinning his way into a cleaner spot to finish a possession with two points.

Really, it’s his strength that stands out when he’s heading towards the hoop. He plays with an appropriate physicality for a player his size, making him a tough assignment when he’s barreling down the lane.

On post-ups this year, Kalkbrenner’s 1.23 points per possession had him in the 93rd percentile in the NCAA, while his 1.28 PPP as a roller/cutter had him in the 82nd percentile. A 19-point scorer in his final season with the Bluejays, Kalkbrenner shot an outstanding 79.5% at the rim.

Paired with Baylor Scheierman for two seasons at Creighton, their dynamic pick-and-roll combination could return for an exciting reunion in Boston, where it’d serve as a bench tandem with some built-in chemistry.

While Boston has had success in finding bigs with a capable playmaking eye, don’t expect Kalkbrenner to be a significant anticipatory passer, with most of his assists coming on more basic-read kickouts and the occasional backdoor cut.

At his size, he moves pretty well, rising high for countless lobs and putbacks. The 3-point shot was never a huge part of his game, but in Year 5, he put up a career-high in attempts (61, 1.7 per game) and knocked them down at a respectable rate (34%), making it the one significant area in his game with a ceiling to keep an eye on.

Kalkbrenner’s defensive skillset is as straightforward as it is effective. He’s a forceful presence protecting the rim (2.7 blocks per game in 2025) that doesn’t back down easy when defending post-ups, but he’ll likely never be a trustworthy switch defender. With guys his size, that’s often how it goes.

Aside from a 3-inch height difference, Kalkbrenner isn’t terribly far apart from what Zach Edey was as a prospect, though Edey’s stock soared into the lottery of what was generally considered a weaker draft class than the one we’re seeing in 2025. It’s more than likely that Kalkbrenner will still be around when Boston makes its selection.

Boston’s frontcourt situation is easily the biggest question mark this offseason. Kristaps Porzingis is being heavily discussed in trade rumors, and Al Horford and Luke Kornet are both free agents. That leaves Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta as the bigs under contract. Even with Horford back on the roster, a drop big of Kalkbrenner’s caliber can make a positive impact in double-big scenarios or surrounded by switchier defenders as the lone rim protector.

There’s a chance Horford returns and Boston prioritizes a much-deserved payday for Kornet, but even in that scenario, a ready-made contributor on a rookie scale contract would be a welcome sign for a Celtics team that’s considering life ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Mark’s Pick: Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s – Forward

Rasheer Fleming screams of a Brad Stevens pick.

The 6-foot-9 forward out of Saint Joseph’s University boasts a 7-foot-5.25 wingspan (tied for fourth at the NBA Combine) and a 9-foot-1 standing reach. He’s projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick.

Fleming was the Hawks’ best player last season, averaging 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 53.1% from the field and 39% from 3-point range.

Joe Mazzulla’s offense is predicated on spacing the floor for stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, while surrounding them with versatile defenders who can shoot. Fleming checks all the boxes—and would add some much-needed height and flexibility to the Celtics’ frontcourt.

In addition to his shooting, Fleming is an aggressive rebounder. He grabbed 8.5 boards per game, including 2.1 on the offensive end. His combination of wingspan and leaping ability allows him to battle effectively on the glass against taller competition.

Over three seasons on Hawk Hill, Fleming consistently improved his shooting numbers. As a freshman, he averaged 20 minutes per game and shot 42.7% from the floor and 29.7% from deep. As a sophomore, he increased those marks to 52.8% and 32.4%. Last season, he took another leap forward.

In the above clip, Fleming reads the floor well. When he sees Haskins drive, he relocates to the corner, creating an outlet. When the pass comes, he calmly knocks down the jumper.

One of Fleming’s biggest strengths is his smooth shooting form. His release is fluid and compact, with no hitch in his motion. He may need to speed up his shot slightly at the NBA level, but the mechanics are solid.

Fleming doesn’t hesitate on open looks but also doesn’t settle. He’s capable of attacking closeouts, though his ball handling could use refinement. He’s at his best in the paint when going straight up—catching lobs or finishing off one dribble.

His wiry frame may cause issues when defending stronger centers like Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid in the post. But in today’s NBA, he projects as someone who can guard positions 2 through 4 and hold his own against most non-dominant bigs.

Against quicker guards, Fleming uses his length to recover even when beaten. He averaged 1.5 blocks per game last season, thanks in large part to his wingspan. He also posted an impressive 2.72 shuttle run time at the NBA Combine—second only to Grant Nelson (2.58).

In February, Brad Stevens was spotted in Philadelphia watching Fleming, who finished with 23 points and six rebounds.

Ben’s Pick: Danny Wolf, Michigan – Center

Michigan’s Danny Wolf is one of 2025’s most intriguing center prospects. At 7’0” and 250 pounds, Wolf boasts an offensive skill set that epitomizes a modern NBA big man.

Wolf’s unique mix of size, mobility, and basketball IQ makes him a jack-of-all-trades on the offensive end, especially with the ball in his hands. Michigan used Wolf like a guard in the half-court offense. He regularly put the ball on the floor, made decisions out of pick-and-rolls, and often served as the engine of Dusty May’s system. His height and IQ helped him excel as a passer, averaging nearly four assists per game with a wide variety of deliveries. He threw lobs over the top of the defense, found cutters and shooters from the post, and fired crisp pocket passes in pick-and-roll action. He was the hub of Michigan’s offense.

Wolf also made an impact as a scorer for the Wolverines. The junior averaged 13.2 points per game on 49.7% shooting from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc on three attempts per game. With unprecedented agility, ball-handling, and footwork for his size, Wolf showcased a well-rounded offensive arsenal: drives to the rim, step-backs from both levels, and a developing low-post game. He struggled on spot-up attempts at Michigan, but during his freshman and sophomore seasons in a more rigid Yale offense, he knocked down 44% of his spot-up three-pointers.

On defense, Wolf shows plenty of promise. He was the Big Ten’s top defensive rebounder, averaging about eight per game, and consistently blocked shots as a help defender in the paint. His lateral quickness allowed him to average around a steal per game, even when drawn away from the basket. Still, Wolf is an irregular mix of strength and speed, which may keep him from fitting neatly into one defensive role. He may never become a dominant rim protector or lockdown perimeter defender, but he could become solid at both.

By no means is Danny Wolf a perfect prospect—there’s a reason he’s projected as a late-round pick. There are concerns about how effective he’ll be without the ball in his hands consistently, how his defense will translate, and whether he can handle the physicality of NBA play. These are understandable question marks, but I think the Celtics would be able to nurture his skill set and help him develop to his full potential – maybe old-man Al Horford can teach him a thing or two? With the league becoming more positionless than ever, having a high-IQ big man who can run the floor would be a competitive luxury for the Celtics.

Which late-round prospect has caught your eye heading into Draft Night?