What happened: The Boston Celtics enter the 2026 NBA Draft holding the No. 27 and No. 40 selections, and the franchise is leaning on its history of unearthing contributors outside the lottery. The first round tips off tonight at 8:00 PM ET on ABC and ESPN.

Why it matters: Late-first and early-second round picks are where contending rosters find cheap, controllable depth, and Boston has used those slots to stock its rotation before. With the team already navigating draft targets and trade rumors around the No. 27 pick, tonight shapes how the Celtics fill out the back half of next season's roster.

What to watch: Watch whether Boston keeps both selections or packages them in a move, with the No. 27 pick on the clock in tonight's first round and No. 40 falling early in the second.