![\"Boston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1398474681-e1773344610407.jpg\")
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Boston Celtics’ Brad Stevens prior to a game against the Miami Heat in May 2022<\/p>\n
The Boston Celtics<\/a> are finding form at the right time, winning four straight games and 11 of their last 13 as the race for playoff positioning tightens.<\/p>\n Boston currently holds a 54-25 record, sitting second in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n They are three games clear of the New York Knicks<\/a> with just three regular-season games remaining, including a crucial matchup between the two sides on Thursday.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons<\/a> remain three games ahead at the top of the standings.<\/p>\n While the Celtics remain focused on locking in their postseason position, there is also a growing awareness of the decisions that could shape another key offseason.<\/p>\n Boston Celtics Lean on Draft Strategy to Manage Future Cap Pressure<\/p>\n The emergence of players such as Payton Pritchard<\/a> and Baylor Scheierman<\/a> has highlighted the importance of developing high-upside, cost-controlled talent within a championship roster.<\/p>\n With Jaylen Brown<\/a>, Jayson Tatum<\/a>, and Derrick White<\/a> already commanding significant portions of the salary cap<\/a>, and Nikola Vucevic<\/a> potentially joining them if he re-signs in unrestricted free agency, Boston\u2019s financial flexibility could soon tighten.<\/p>\n That makes the NBA Draft an increasingly important avenue<\/a> for roster building, offering a sustainable way to add talent without compromising long-term flexibility.<\/p>\n Boston retains control of its future draft capital and is currently projected to pick towards the back end of the first round.<\/p>\n In his latest mock draft, The Ringer\u2019s J. Kyle Mann<\/a> has the Celtics selecting New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez with the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on the conversations I\u2019ve had, L\u00f3pez has a wide draft range, but I\u2019ve never gotten the sense that he will fall into lottery territory,\u201d Mann wrote. \u201cThat could change, but as of now, the situation has a \u201cslide\u201d vibe\u2014which could benefit a team like Boston that tends to pounce on undervalued perimeter pieces and develop them into highly serviceable players.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cL\u00f3pez played in a supporting role for a flawed and mediocre New Zealand Breakers team this past season, which didn\u2019t exactly put him in the best position to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis combination of bona fide NBA<\/a> perimeter size and general feel for the game could really progress with some time and the type of tutelage that the Celtics have shown they\u2019re capable of giving.\u201d<\/p>\n Karim Lopez Emerging as Intriguing Late First-Round Option<\/p>\n Across 30 games this season, Lopez has averaged<\/a> 11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks for the Breakers.<\/p>\n He has shot 49.4% from the field and 32.2% from three-point range on 3.0 attempts per game.<\/p>\n In late January, Lopez delivered a standout performance<\/a> with 32 points in a win over Melbourne, adding eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks while shooting an efficient 11-of-13 from the field.<\/p>\n At just 18-years-old, the Mexican forward already brings significant professional experience. He signed with Joventut Badalona in Spain at 14 before joining the Breakers in Australia\u2019s National Basketball League in 2024.<\/p>\n Now in his second season with New Zealand, Lopez has developed into one of the more intriguing international prospects in his class.<\/p>\n \u201cLopez is skilled enough that he\u2019ll be a terrific player somewhere, but I wonder if he\u2019s going to be the best player in EuroLeague at some point or if he\u2019ll be a legitimate NBA player,\u201d The Athletic\u2019s Sam Vecenie<\/a> wrote in March, projecting Lopez as a lottery pick.<\/p>\n Despite some uncertainty around his long-term ceiling, Lopez could represent strong value if available late in the first round.<\/p>\n For a Boston Celtics team balancing championship ambitions with long-term planning, he represents a developmental prospect who could grow alongside the current core and evolve into a reliable contributor in the coming years.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMatt Evans<\/a> is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Celtics\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t