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Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens during a game against the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025

As the Boston Celtics prepare for a first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, the immediate focus remains firmly on the postseason.

However, with the NBA Draft lottery picture now set, attention is beginning to shift towards what could be a pivotal offseason across the league.

Boston’s recent success with players such as Payton Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman has once again highlighted the importance of developing high-upside, cost-controlled talent within a championship-caliber roster.

Boston Celtics Look to Draft as Key Tool Amid Financial Pressure

With Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White already commanding significant portions of the team’s salary cap, and Nikola Vucevic potentially joining that group if he re-signs in unrestricted free agency, Boston could soon face increasing financial constraints.

That reality elevates the importance of the NBA Draft as a strategic tool for maintaining roster balance.

For a team intent on contending year after year, the draft provides a sustainable pathway to add affordable contributors without sacrificing long-term flexibility.

Boston retains control of its future draft capital and is currently projected to pick towards the back end of the first round.

In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno has the Celtics selecting UConn guard Braylon Mullins with the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Across 33 games this season, Mullins averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steals, while shooting 42.1% from the field and 33.5% from three-point range.

“Mullins’ calling card coming out of high school was his 3-point shooting,” Salerno wrote. “He shot 33.5% on 6.5 attempts per night. Mullins got off to a slow start after an injury sidelined him to begin the season, but he did have some good performances in the NCAA Tournament.”

“His athleticism and his ability to create second chances despite being a guard are something I took note of when watching him at the Final Four.”

Braylon Mullins Emerges as Intriguing Shooting Prospect

Mullins grabbed national attention during UConn’s Elite Eight matchup against Duke, where he drilled a game-winning logo three-pointer with just 0.4 seconds remaining.

According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, UConn is prepared to offer the freshman a “lucrative NIL package” in an effort to keep him in college.

Sidery added that a “mid-1st round pick” can earn approximately $4-5 million annually, a figure the program “plans on matching.”

If the 19-year-old does declare for the NBA Draft, his skill set aligns closely with teams seeking perimeter players who can stretch the floor, move effectively without the ball, and thrive in spacing-heavy systems.

NBA Draft Room describes Mullins as “an elite three-point shooter with a lightening quick release and deadly accuracy from downtown… he clearly looks like a high level NBA two-guard.”

Mullins surpassed the 20-point mark three times this season, including a career-high 25-point performance against Creighton in mid-February.

In that game, he showcased his perimeter shooting by knocking down six three-pointers while adding six rebounds, two steals, and a block.

Another standout performance came in January, when he scored 24 points in a win over Providence, shooting 8-of-14 from the field and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.

For a Boston Celtics team balancing immediate championship ambitions with long-term planning, a prospect like Mullins offers more than depth.

He represents a potential contributor who can complement the current core while aligning with the franchise’s broader vision.