As we approach the NBA offseason, Brad Stevens is expected to be busy reshaping the Boston Celtics roster. Joe Mazzulla’s team squandered a 3-1 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers during the opening round of the postseason, eventually losing 3-4, following three straight defeats, two of which came on Boston’s home floor.
On paper, the easiest route to improvement will come via the trade market. There is already sizable speculation regarding Jaylen Brown‘s future with the franchise. Derrick White and Sam Hauser are also candidates to be floated in trade talks throughout the summer. Nevertheless, Stevens will also get the opportunity to add another cost-controlled asset to the Celtics roster during the NBA draft.
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In recent years, Stevens has prioritized players with multi-season collegiate careers due to their higher floor entering the league. However, in ESPN’s latest mock draft, Jeremy Woo has predicted Stevens will take a slight change of direction, with Amari Allen being floated as the player Boston takes with the 27th pick in the first round.
“Allen’s positional versatility and ability to augment lineups on both sides of the ball give him a path to finding a long-term NBA role,” Woo wrote of Allen’s skill set. “While he is not likely to create his own shot at a high level and shot a middling 34.1 percent from 3, his playmaking flashes and defensive instincts give him a good role-player baseline to build on if his scoring ability can catch up. Whether he can work up the board from here or ultimately winds up back in college remains to be seen, as an older Freshman who was unheralded to begin the season.”
After starting 24 of his 32 games for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Allen will enter the NBA as a developmental project.
Alabama forward Amari Allen (5) dribbles against Michigan guard Nimari Burnett (4) during the first half of NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 27, 2026.
Boston has a solid track record of helping young players round out their games before being given an opportunity to earn a spot within Mazzulla’s rotation. However, the wing position is the most loaded area of Boston’s roster.
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As such, Stevens may be inclined to look elsewhere in the draft, as Allen would face a monumental challenge in trying to earn minutes at either the three or the four. However, if he’s the best talent available when Boston is on the clock, it would be understandable if Stevens picked him up and plugged him straight into the current developmental pipeline in Maine.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics take Crimson Tide forward in latest mock draft
