The Boston Celtics are gearing up for another offseason of roster building, and all eyes are on Brad Stevens as he holds the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Known for finding hidden gems in the late first round, Stevens has already struck gold with players like Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez, both of whom carved out meaningful roles for Joe Mazzulla's squad this past season. Now, the question on every fan's mind: Can he do it again?

According to The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, the answer might be a resounding yes. In his latest mock draft, Vecenie has the Celtics selecting Isaiah Evans, a 6-foot-6 wing out of Duke, with that 27th pick. Evans just wrapped up his sophomore season with the Blue Devils, starting all 38 games and posting solid averages of 15 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per night.

"Evans had a strong close to the season up until his final game, helping Duke reach the Elite Eight," Vecenie wrote. "He averaged 15 points per game while shooting 43 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3, but over his final 15 games, he averaged 16.5 points while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3 on over eight 3-point attempts per game."

What makes Evans particularly intriguing for Boston is his development as a versatile scorer. Vecenie highlighted how the Duke standout expanded his game between his freshman and sophomore years, evolving from a catch-and-shoot specialist into a more complete offensive threat. "Evans expanded his game in a big way this year as a driver, too, going from taking 81 percent of his shots from 3 as a freshman to 65 percent of his shots from 3 while taking four attempts inside the line per game," Vecenie noted.

This growth aligns perfectly with Stevens' recent draft philosophy of targeting longer-tenured college players. By spending two or more years in the collegiate system, these prospects often enter the NBA with a higher floor, making them ideal candidates to develop into reliable role players. Evans, who has shown he can adapt and improve, fits that mold to a tee.

For Celtics fans, the prospect of adding a dynamic shooter who thrives off movement and screens is an exciting one. Evans worked effectively with Duke star Cooper Flagg, both in ball screens and as a screener himself, while also running off numerous off-ball screens. That kind of versatility could translate seamlessly into Boston's system, giving Mazzulla another weapon off the bench.

As the draft approaches, all signs point to Stevens once again finding value in the late first round. If Evans is indeed the pick, he could be the next in a growing line of Celtics draft successes.