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Celtics NBA draft preview: What will Boston do with Nos. 28, 32 picks?

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Celtics NBA draft preview: What will Boston do with Nos. 28, 32 picks?


In the NBA, the offseason begins in a hurry.

Just three days after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 7 triumph over the Indiana Pacers, the league will gather at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the opening night of the 2025 NBA Draft.

For the Celtics, the draft will be their first chance to add to a roster that could look substantially different when the 2025-26 season tips off in October. As president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and his staff wind down their draft prep, here’s what you need to know about Boston’s picks and how they might use them:

When is the draft?

The NBA made its draft a two-day affair for the first time last year, and it’s sticking with that format, which was popular among many front office shot-callers. Round 1 will be Wednesday, with Round 2 following on Thursday.

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In a change from the 2024 setup, the entire draft will air in primetime, with both rounds set to begin at 8 p.m. ET.

When do the Celtics pick?

Boston currently owns one first-round selection (No. 28) and one early second-rounder (No. 32), with the latter originally belonging to Washington (the Celtics acquired it from Detroit in 2023). The Celtics traded their own second-round pick in this draft (No. 57) to Orlando in 2021 as part of the return for Evan Fournier.

In his end-of-season news conference last month, Stevens said the Celtics were open to trading up, trading back or sticking and picking at those spots.

“We’ll evaluate who we think will be available at 28 and 32,” Stevens said. “… We’ll have plenty of time to thoroughly evaluate who we think those people might be, and if we want to try to move up, try to move back, whatever, we’ll see how it all goes. But I think when you’re at 28 and 32, you’re not exactly able to pinpoint exactly how that night’s going to go.”

First-round draft picks sign rookie wage-scale contracts that are guaranteed for the first two years. If the Celtics take a player at No. 28, his 2025-26 salary will be between $1.9 million and $2.8 million. Second-round picks often sign non-guaranteed or two-way contracts.

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What kind of talent can Boston expect to find there?

That’s hard to say. The odds of landing an impact player outside of the lottery – or, in some years, anywhere beyond the top five picks – are admittedly slim.

Of the 20 players selected in Boston’s two slots over the last 10 drafts, just three became long-term starters: Jaden McDaniels, Jordan Poole and Ivica Zubac. Those proved to be great value picks (though Zubac didn’t break through until he was traded from the Lakers to the Clippers).

Other hits in that vicinity over the past decade include Pascal Siakam (No. 27, 2016), Dejounte Murray (No. 29, 2016), Derrick White (No. 29, 2017), Josh Hart (No. 30, 2017), Jalen Brunson (No. 33, 2018), Payton Pritchard (No. 26, 2020), Desmond Bane (No. 30, 2020) and Andrew Nembhard (No. 31, 2022).

So, it is possible to find quality NBA players in the late first and early second rounds. But the vast majority of those picks turn out to be middling backups at best. Set your expectations accordingly.

What is the Celtics’ NBA draft track record?

Overall, pretty strong. Every year from 2014 to 2020, they drafted at least one player who went on to see prominent minutes on Boston teams that reached the Eastern Conference finals or beyond. Most of those players are either still with the Celtics (Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Pritchard) or were eventually used as trade chips to acquire current starters (Marcus Smart in the Kristaps Porzingis deal; Robert Williams III as part of the package for Jrue Holiday).

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The Celtics didn’t make a first-round pick in 2021, ’22 and ’23, and their second-rounders in those drafts (JD Davison, Jordan Walsh) haven’t carved out rotation roles. The jury’s still out on last year’s first-round choice, Baylor Scheierman, but the energetic wing showed potential in his handful of late-season opportunities and could see increased minutes in Year 2, depending on how Boston structures its roster this offseason.

Stevens, who ascended to his current role in 2021, strayed from his previous draft playbook last summer, taking two players in Scheierman and second-round pick Anton Watson (who was later cut) who turned 24 before their rookie season began. His prior picks all were teenage projects with far less collegiate experience.

What do the Celtics need?

That also depends on said roster plans. The Celtics are expected to trade at least one member of their championship-winning core in an effort to shed salary and avoid the most prohibitive luxury tax penalties, but it remains unclear which player(s) they’ll attempt to move.

If it’s Holiday, then targeting a guard prospect would make a lot of sense, as White and Pritchard are Boston’s only other proven backcourt options. The Celtics could use additional wing depth regardless with Tatum set to miss at least a significant chunk of the upcoming season following Achilles surgery, and that need would be heightened if they also ship out Sam Hauser (or, in what would be a much more transformative move, Brown). The makeup of Boston’s frontcourt is a major question mark, too, with Al Horford and Luke Kornet both set to hit free agency and Porzingis another logical trade candidate.

But, again, the Celtics can’t bank on finding a solution to any of those potential roster holes this late in the draft. It will be interesting to see whether Stevens aims for a more polished and experienced prospect who could play right away or prioritizes long-term upside.

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Which players could they target?

Prospects of note who could be available in the Celtics’ range include Florida point guard Walter Clayton Jr., the undersized ace shot-maker who starred during the Gators’ run to the national championship, and Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, a former teammate of Scheierman’s who offers elite shot-blocking ability and was a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

Other possible targets: Stanford big man Maxime Reynaud, a 7-footer with intriguing offensive versatility; French wing Noah Penda, a 6-foot-8 20-year-old who plays like a veteran; Arkansas wing Adou Thiero, an uber-athletic ball hawk with an underdeveloped shot; and North Carolina wing Drake Powell, who impressed evaluators with his high motor and defensive versatility during his lone season in Chapel Hill.

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Boston, MA

With snow still piled up, Boston says it’s time to remove your space saver

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With snow still piled up, Boston says it’s time to remove your space saver


Mounds of snow continue to make getting around Boston difficult, and a new hurdle for drivers came Wednesday.

The city allows drivers to use space savers — objects placed in a street space that’s already been dug out — for 48 hours after the end of a snow emergency. That deadline came at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

“You have 48 hours to use a space saver after the end of a declared snow emergency,” the city wrote. “By 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, you need to remove it from the street.”

Boston added that space savers can never be used in Bay Village or the South End.

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The Boston area experienced significant snowfall Sunday into Monday. While road crews have kept busy since then, huge piles of snow still sit along the sides of the city’s streets — which have become more narrow, along with sidewalks, as drivers and pedestrians are forced to navigate blocked paths.

“City gets rid of snow, I’ll get rid of my space saver,” the top comment under Boston’s Facebook post read.

A shortage of rock salt after one major storm is impacting preparation for more possible snow this weekend.

Residents living on Whiting Street in Roxbury told NBC10 Boston Wednesday that they weren’t surprised it took two days for a plow to come through. They said it’s frustrating, but they kept calling 311 until the snow was cleared.

“We’ve lived here since 1988,” said Bolade Owolewa. “It’s been a problem on and on.”

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Boston requires property owners to remove snow from sidewalks within three hours of snow ending. Some remained unshoveled days later, including along Washington Street.

The city issues citations to property owners, but that doesn’t make it easier for people living in the area to get around.

“It’s very dangerous and it’s very slippery,” said Roxbury resident Sigal Pudasaini.

Getting around Boston requires some patience after this weekend’s snowfall, whether you’re walking or driving.

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New Japanese restaurant brings affordable bentos, hand rolls to Boston

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New Japanese restaurant brings affordable bentos, hand rolls to Boston


The team behind several popular hand roll spots in Boston has opened its newest concept near a college campus.

NoriNori Test Kitchen, opened at 399 Chestnut Hill Ave., Brookline on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Located just steps away from Cleveland Circle and Boston College, the Japanese bar and restaurant is the third venture from NoToro Hospitality Group. The group oversees other popular sushi spots including Matsunori Handroll Bar in Fenway and Mai, which opened in Seaport in September 2025.

“Norinori is a salute to the humble bento, bringing their affordability, simplicity, and versatility to Brookline and modernizing their traditional flavors with a boldness that reflects our industrial cyberpunk-inspired space,” the restaurant’s website states. “Bentos fuel Japan. From Tokyo to Hokkaido. Come join us as we welcome them to Brookline.”

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Several hand rolls from NoriNori Test Kitchen in Brookline, Massachusetts.David Cifarelli

Keeping NoToro’s focus on affordability, NoriNori’s menu consists of moderately priced hand rolls and bento boxes.

Boxes range from $19-$27 and come with diners’ choice of protein, rice, soup and salad. Standouts include the $24 Gyukatsu, a fried beef sirloin cutlet with homemade tonkatsu sauce, and the Miso Butter Cod (also $24), which features Atlantic white cod marinated for 24 hours in a homemade miso butter mix.

Meanwhile most of NoriNori’s hand rolls are between $5-$6. Diners familiar with NoToro’s other concepts will recognize these rolls, which feature several staple fish including salmon, tuna, yellowtail and eel.

NoriNori is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30-9:30 p.m.





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David Pastrnak, Bruins earn 3-2 overtime victory over Nashville

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David Pastrnak, Bruins earn 3-2 overtime victory over Nashville


The Bruins may not liked how they got to the end result on Tuesday night at the Garden, but results are all that matter right now.

For the second night in a row, the B’s could not protect a lead that they held after 40 minutes. But unlike the verdict in Manhattan, the B’s were able to get the full two points on the table in overtime.

It took just 15 seconds into OT.

Mark Kastelic won the opening faceoff and Charlie McAvoy skated with it into the offensive zone. Marat Khusnutdinov jumped on for Kastelic and, after some razzle-dazzle, McAvoy sent a backhand pass toward the top of the crease to David Pastrnak for the redirection goal for the 3-2 win. It was an all’s-well-that-ends-well kind of night for Pastrnak, who took a costly penalty late in the second period that helped Nashville get back in the game.

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The day was an interesting one for the B’s.

The schedule gives and it takes away, and Tuesday was a night when the B’s were at a distinct disadvantage. Because of flight issues related to the winter storm, the B’s could not fly out of New York on Monday after their overtime loss to the Rangers and were forced to bus back up to Boston, arriving back home around 1:30 pm on Tuesday.

The Preds on the other hand, last played on Saturday afternoon and chartered into Boston on  Saturday night to beat the blizzard.

The team chefs arrived with meals at Hanscom Airport to help the players fuel up. Skills coach John McLean, who doesn’t travel with the team, also went the airport and shoveled out the entire traveling party’s cars, no small task with the amount of snow dumped on the region.

“We owe him a couple of beers,” said Morgan Geekie. “It takes a village and everybody stepped up today no matter how it was. Happy we could get the win.”

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With all the help they did get, coach Marco Sturm wasn’t going to allow his players an out if they did lose in OT.

“It doesn’t matter if we lost the game or whatever. That shouldn’t be an excuse,” said Sturm. “Guys were ready to go today. You’re not always perfect Our third was definitely better than (Monday). Couldn’t close it but guys came back and showed character and at the end of the day, we need to take all the points we can get….I’m just happy the way the last couple of weeks went.”

Dating back to their New Year’s Eve win in Edmonton, the B’s are 11-2-1 in their last 14.

Despite the travel complications, the B’s were the ones to score the lone goal in the first period, which came off the stick of Sweden’s newest Olympian, Hampus Lindholm. The defenseman took the puck down from the left point to the circle and sent what looked like a harmless shot toward the net. But working the net front after winning the faceoff back to Mason Lohrei, Fraser Minten went for the tip and missed, but that seemed to distract Juuse Saros enough to allow the puck to get behind him for the 1-0 B’s lead at 13:16.

They made it 2-0 early in the second period, thanks to the simmering stick of Geekie. Pastrnak first danced around Roman Josi just inside the Nashville blue line and then shoveled the puck along the left boards to Geekie. Geekie took a few strides toward the net and, from the bottom of the circle, snapped a shot that beat Saros off the far post and in. It was Geekie’s 30th goal of the season and fourth in three games while Pastrnak extended his point streak to eight games.

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Though the game was a snoozer, the B’s appeared to be in full control. That is until their season-long problem raised its ugly head again – penalties.

Late in the period, Pastrnak took a bad slashing on Josi in the neutral zone. It was the B’s fourth penalty to that point and, this time, the Predators made them pay. From above the right dot, Josi’s low shot got under Jeremy Swayman’s glove with 35 seconds left in the period, changing the complexion of the game just like that.

“Obviously I know it’s a bad penalty and I apologized to the group and moved forward,” said Pastrnak.

To make matters worse, the B’s lost Elias Lindholm to an upper body injury off a faceoff late in the period and he did not return. Sturm did not have an update after the game but said the centerman would be getting some tests on Wednesday.

In the third, the B’s had a great chance to regain the two-goal lead when Casey Mittelstadt, from behind the net, found a wide-open Viktor Arvidsson a the top of the crease,  but Saros stoned him.

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And with 6:43 left in regulation, the Preds tied it. After matching roughing minors, Nashville scored on the ensuing 4-on-4 when Nick Blankenburg used the extra room to roam free out high and he beat Swayman with a long shot under the blocker.

It stay deadlocked after 60 minutes. It got unlocked 15 seconds later. On the winner, another non-uniformed member of the B’s had another big assist. The plan, as usual, was for Kastelic to take the opening draw and jump off the ice. This time Khusnutdinov was set to jump on. Only problem was, he was missing a skate blade.

Equipment manager Keith Robinson heard assistant Matt Falconer yell out “Khusy needs steel!” As soon as Robinson snapped the blade in, Khusnutdinov jumped onto the ice and joined the weave in the offensive zone, dropping the puck for the circling Pastrnak,  who then executed the pretty give-and-go with McAvoy for the winner.

As Geekie said, it takes a village.

Loose pucks

Hampus Lindholm will be going to the Olympics after all. Due to the injury to Jonas Brodin, Lindholm was named to Team Sweden on Tuesday, where he’ll join Bruin teammate Elias Lindholm. Other Bruins going to the Games in Milan, Italy will be Swayman and McAvoy (USA), Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha (Czechia), Henri Jokiharju (Finland) and Providence Bruin Dans Locmelis (Latvia).

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“Any time you put (the Sweden jersey), it’s such a cool jersey, it has so much history tied to it. I haven’t had any opportunity for the Olympis for me in my career, so it’s going to be a great honor to go there,” said Lindholm… Alex Steeves was scratched in favor of Mikey Eyssimont, who played his first game since Jan. 11…Nikita Zadorov, who missed Monday’s game with a lower body injury, returned to the lineup and saw 21:53, second most on the B’s to McAvoy’s 27:14.

 



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