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What Celtics fans need to know about draft pick Dillon Mitchell
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- What Celtics fans need to know about draft pick Dillon Mitchell
What Celtics fans need to know about draft pick Dillon Mitchell originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics had defense on the mind with their second-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
They used the selection on Dillon Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 forward out of St. John's. Mitchell is a defense-first wing with impressive rebounding ability for his size. Offensively, he's a strong finisher and lob threat, but a jump shot isn't in his toolbox.
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Mitchell played in 37 games (25 starts) for Rick Pitino's Red Storm last season, helping them to a 30-7 record and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
Here's a breakdown of what fans need to know about the newest Celtic:
Basic info
Age: 22
Position: Forward
School: St. John's
Height, weight: 6-foot-8, 210 pounds
2025-26 Stats(with St. John's): 8.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 55.9 FG%
How will he help the Celtics?
The Celtics love players who can hang their hat on their defensive ability, and Mitchell fits that mold.
Mitchell is a premium defender who likely can already hold his own on that end of the floor at the NBA level. He also showcases elite athleticism on the offensive end with his uncanny ability to finish at the rim.
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NBC Sports Boston 's Celtics insider Chris Forsberg shared his reaction to the pick during Wednesday's Celtics Draft Special .
"If you're playing for the Boston Celtics, you have to be able to defend multiple positions and switch," Forsberg said. "The athleticism when you watch his tape is obvious, and I think one of the things that was pretty clear watching the Celtics this season, they could use an infusion of athleticism on this roster. They don't have a lot of guys that can attack the basket or be springy.
"The fact that he can clean up the offensive glass and create extra opportunities — we know how big of a deal that was for Joe Mazzulla this year — so super intrigued by it."
Cenac played a little too much on the perimeter for Houston and didn't get to the basket enough offensively, but with the athleticism and size he brings to the floor, the Celtics should be able to correct those weaknesses.
Can he make an impact right away?
There's a chance.
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Mitchell is that good of a defender already. He should have no problem holding his own on that end of the floor out of the gate. The Celtics could find his high energy and ability to defend multiple positions useful as soon as this season.
What might ultimately hold Mitchell back is his jump shot, or lack thereof. He shot 11-for-57 from 3-point range during his four-year collegiate career, including 1-for-15 last season.
That will have to improve if Mitchell hopes to earn a spot in the Celtics' rotation. The good news for him is that Boston has an impressive history of turning poor shooters into dependable ones. Jordan Walsh stands out as the obvious comparison, and the defensive-minded Hugo Gonzalez took a step forward in that department during his rookie campaign.
