Celtics Draft Buzz: Could Moustapha Thiam Be Boston's Pick 26 Gamble?

Is Moustapha Thiam Actually the Celtics' Pick 26?

Boston Celtics fans scanning early mock drafts for 2027 have started to see a new name pop up next to the franchise's projected No. 26 pick: Cincinnati big man Moustapha Thiam. But before anyone starts penciling him into next season's rotation, a reality check is in order. This is a way-too-early projection, not a done deal.

Draft boards this far out are notoriously fluid, and Thiam's own range reflects that. CBS Sports' early mock has him going No. 28 to Detroit, not Boston, while another projection has the Celtics using pick 26 on a different big, Flory Bidunga. Some evaluators see first-round upside for Thiam; others grade him closer to the No. 43–47 range, which would put him firmly in second-round territory.

So the honest framing is this: No. 26 sits within Thiam's plausible range, and it's easy to see why a team drafting there would kick the tires. But he's not a consensus target for that specific slot, and his stock will almost certainly move — up or down — as the college season plays out.

What's Driving the Draft Buzz on Thiam?

The appeal starts with measurements that scouts don't see often. Thiam plays with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, giving him rare length at the rim even before you get to what he's producing on the stat sheet.

At Cincinnati, Thiam is averaging 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, and he's already put up a team-high 50 blocked shots this season. That's not a small sample — it's a big man doing exactly what teams want from a rim protector while also carrying real offensive load. His freshman year at UCF told a similar story, with 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.

The concerns are just as real as the upside. Multiple scouting reports flag a thin frame, questions about physicality and rebounding toughness against bigger bodies, and an offensive game that can be more passive than his tools would suggest. For a franchise like Boston that has leaned on switchable, physical defenders, that's the kind of gap that would need to close quickly at the next level.

Does His Three-Point Shot Change the Calculus for Boston?

This is the number that separates Thiam from a typical shot-blocking big: he's hit 40.7% of his unguarded catch-and-shoot three-pointers at Cincinnati. For a modern Celtics roster built around floor spacing, a rim-protecting center who can also stretch the defense from the corner is close to the ideal archetype.

But that stat needs context before anyone gets too excited. His overall three-point percentage remains below 30%, meaning the 40.7% figure applies specifically to open, unguarded looks — not the tougher, more common shots he'll actually face against NBA-level closeouts. Scouts have also pointed to a slow, elongated release that could get exposed once defenders are closing out with real speed and length.

So the honest read is this: Thiam has flashed real touch, and that's rare enough in a player with his length to be worth betting on. But there's a real gap between "shoots well when nobody's guarding him" and "reliable NBA floor-spacer," and that gap is exactly what will determine whether he's a steal at 26 or a projection that never quite materializes.

The Bottom Line for Celtics Draft Watchers

Nothing about Thiam's profile is a lock, and Boston fans should treat this projection the way front offices actually do this far out — as one plausible outcome among several, not a headline pick locked in stone.

What to Watch Next

Keep an eye on how Thiam's three-point volume trends as Cincinnati's season progresses — if that unguarded touch starts showing up in game shots, the Celtics' interest at 26 stops looking like a gamble and starts looking like a plan.