{"id":165902,"date":"2025-11-07T06:00:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T11:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=165902"},"modified":"2025-11-06T21:15:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T02:15:49","slug":"nba-mock-draft-celtics-brayden-burries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/11\/07\/nba-mock-draft-celtics-brayden-burries\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest BR NBA Mock Draft Has Celtics Picking Arizona Guard"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 NBA draft class is filled with highly touted college athletes, incredibly skilled foreign-born players, and some continuing the NBA-family tradition. Some of these standouts are AJ Dybantsa<\/a> from BYU, Italian Dame Sarr<\/a>, and Cameron Boozer<\/a> from Duke. The latest Bleacher Report 2026 NBA mock draft<\/a> sees five-star recruit Brayden Burries<\/a> landing with the Boston Celtics.<\/p>\n

Latest BR NBA Mock Draft Has Celtics Picking Arizona Guard<\/h2>\n

Is Brayden Burries The Answer For Boston?<\/h3>\n

The mock draft has the Celtics landing the ninth overall pick, which falls in the lottery. Burries is slated to be taken around that mark even with other talented players available. Adding a guard like him looks like a good move considering the aging Derrick White<\/a> and undersized Payton Pritchard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Burries is an athletic ball-handler with tremendous driving ability. He can get into the lane using his six-foot-four build and convert with strength or finesse. The Wildcats guard has shown a knack for hitting floaters over defenders. His potential as a high-volume scoring guard is real. And, while he shows promise as a three-point shooter, he has room for improvement in this area. The playmaking ability is also a work in progress.<\/p>\n

Although Burries has tremendous upside, the Celtics will rely heavily on Jayson Tatum<\/a> and Jaylen Brown<\/a> for the foreseeable future. This mock also adds the questions: is he the right fit? Could he gel with Tatum and Brown as an off-the-ball shooting\/slashing guard? Will there be a front-court player available that is better suited for this Celtic roster?<\/p>\n

\"Roosevelt
Jan 3, 2025; Gilbert, AZ, USA; Roosevelt High School (CA) guard Brayden Burries (5) against Sandra Day O\u00d5Connor High School (AZ) during the Hoophall West High School Invitational at Highland High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Imagesn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Potential Late Lottery And Mid-First Round Players Available<\/h3>\n

Boston should be looking to fill the hole in the frontcourt left by the offseason losses<\/a> of Al Horford<\/a> and Luke Kornet<\/a>. Notable front-court players in this mock draft are: Caleb Wilson<\/a>, Hannes Steinbach<\/a>, and Chris Cenac Jr.<\/a> Each of these bigs is considered to be a very productive inside scorer with some ability to stretch the floor.<\/p>\n

Caleb Wilson<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Wilson has the highest potential among the three, being the youngest and most athletic. The Tar Heel is a very raw prospect with defensive versatility and can convert close to the rim. His size could hold him back against larger bigs; however, his physical presence and strength should help him hold his own. This sort of player with tremendous athletic ability and a natural defensive intensity is a perfect match for the Celtics. The mock draft lists Jonathan Isaac<\/a> as his NBA comp.<\/p>\n

Hannes Steinbach<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Steinbach stands out as the most efficient offensive player with a high basketball IQ and few, if any, weaknesses on that side of the ball. His footwork is astonishing for his size as he stands at six-foot-11. His shot-making is also legit from both inside and outside the arc. Although he is an effective playmaker, he will need to improve his defense to become a more well-rounded player. His NBA player comparison is Moritz Wagner<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chris Cenac Jr.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cenac Jr. may have the most immediate upside if the Celtics staff can convince him to limit his ball-handling tendencies. His high motor and athleticism provide defenses with a lot of difficulty in their game planning. He can take a defender off the dribble or fly through the sky for a demoralizing, emphatic dunk. At six-foot-11 and weighing 240 pounds, this 18-year-old could pose a serious problem once he adjusts to the speed of professional NBA athletes. Kel’el Ware<\/a> is a very fitting NBA comparison.<\/p>\n

Other Late First And Early Second Round Sleepers<\/strong><\/h3>\n