Ever since Al Horford’s departure from the franchise last offseason, a glaring structural void has compromised the structural integrity of the Boston Celtics’ frontline.
Under head coach Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics’ offensive ecosystem is entirely predicated on space, rhythm, and a relentlessly high volume of 3-point attempts. The system reaches its lethal peak when every single player on the hardwood is a threat from the perimeter. While Neemias Queta stepped up as a highly admirable, physically imposing starting center this past season, his complete lack of a jumper routinely allowed opposing defenses to clog the paint.
As President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens shifts his focus toward the upcoming NBA Draft, filling the “stretch-five” vacuum is paramount. According to an draft profile from Chowder and Champions’ Efstathios Savvidis, the perfect solution is staring Boston right in the face at the end of the first round: Santa Clara forward Allen Graves.
The Santa Clara Revelation
Graves, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman, has experienced a meteoric rise up draft boards following a sensational lone collegiate campaign with the Santa Clara Broncos.
The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward put up highly versatile across-the-board metrics, averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. Crucially for Boston’s front office, Graves weaponized a lethal perimeter stroke, shooting a blistering 41.3% from beyond the arc. His dynamic two-way play single-handedly transformed the Broncos, carrying the mid-major program to its first highly coveted NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996.
The Prospect Blueprint: Allen Graves
- Age / Class: 19 / Redshirt Freshman
- Physical Profile: 6’9″, 225 lbs (Santa Clara Broncos)
- The Calling Card: 41.3% 3PT on a deliberate, pick-and-pop heavy launch profile
- Roster Proximity: Projected between picks 20 and 30 (Boston holds Pick No. 27)
While Graves officially declared for the draft last month with the safety net of returning to school, industry insiders indicate he is locked into the first round. Mock drafts have universally pinned him in the 20-to-30 range, placing him directly in the crosshairs of Brad Stevens and the Celtics at Pick No. 27.
The Al Horford Evolutionary Template
The stylistic comparisons between Graves and a prime Al Horford are impossible to ignore. At Santa Clara, Graves did the vast majority of his damage operating out of pick-and-pop actions and high-post distributions. Though his shooting release is slightly slow by NBA standards, his elite spatial awareness makes him an instantaneous floor-spacing threat.
Beyond the perimeter threat, Graves mirrors Horford’s gritty, low-ego intangibles:
- Offensive Glasswork: Led Santa Clara with 2.8 offensive rebounds per game, showcasing an elite nose for tracking loose balls.
- Defensive Versatility: Possesses the lateral quickness and physical frame to reliably switch and guard positions one through four.
- Playmaking Vision: Operates as a highly willing, high-IQ passer from the top of the key, grease-wheeling Mazzulla’s ball-movement principles.
The G-League Incubation Strategy
The primary skepticism surrounding Graves stems from his mid-major background. In the West Coast Conference, he routinely used his sheer physicality to bully smaller, less athletic defenders. Transitioning to the NBA means facing elite length, speed, and lateral rim protectors—forcing Graves to quicken his shot mechanics and expand his face-up scoring package.
However, Boston represents the ultimate low-pressure developmental landing spot. The Celtics have established a highly successful blueprint for bringing along late first-round selections, utilizing the Maine Celtics (their G-League affiliate) to seamlessly incubate talent like Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman.
By utilizing Pick No. 27 on Graves, Brad Stevens wouldn’t be asking the teenager to play high-leverage playoff minutes immediately. Instead, Boston can slow-cook his developmental traits, secure in the knowledge that they have drafted the spiritual and tactical heir to Al Horford for the next decade.
The Draft Verdict: Finding a legitimate 6-foot-9 modern big man who hits over 41% of his triples at age 19 is an absolute rarity late in the first round. Graves fits the Celtics’ cultural and tactical identity like a glove. If he is still sitting on the board at 27, Brad Stevens shouldn’t hesitate for a single second—he is the missing jigsaw piece to sustain Boston’s modern offensive dynasty.
