Isaiah Evans mock draft: Final prediction for Duke star on draft day

Follow along for live rumors and news from around the league on NBA draft day.

It's almost time for Isaiah Evans to learn where he'll begin his professional career. The 2026 NBA Draft begins on Tuesday night and Duke fans will be paying close attention.

Following the NBA draft combine and weeks of pre-draft workouts , front offices will finalize their decisions this evening. After extensive conversations with folks around the league, we have more intel on when each prospect might hear their name called during draft nights at Barclays Center for the first round on June 23 and and the second on June 24.

Our mock draft includes data from CBB Analytics . We also spoke with P3 , a sports science and athletic training company that uses biomechanical data and movement profiling to evaluate players and project NBA outcomes, to better understand how certain prospects translate physically to the next level.

While news of two big trades broke late night on Monday, June 22 - one involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and the other involving Julius Randle - neither can be executed until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET, which is the start of the new league year. So, those 2026 picks remain with their current teams in our mock draft, although those teams will be selecting players on behalf of their trade partners.

Following conversations with decision-makers around the league and other trusted reporting, here are our latest prediction for the Boston Celtics.

Isaiah Evans 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 27 overall, Boston Celtics

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Boston tends to favor players with a high effective field goal percentage, low turnover percentage and low usage rate. They also like players who make quick decisions on catch-and-shoot opportunities and on corner 3-pointers. Duke sophomore Isaiah Evans scored 218 points when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranked third-best among ACC players last season. He also matched 30 corner 3-pointers, according to CBB Analytics, which trailed the top-ranked high-major player (34) by just four field goals made. Expect the Celtics to potentially have Evans higher on their big board than other teams might. UConn's Alex Karaban, who reportedly had a pre-draft workout with the organization, also fits the bill.

See USA TODAY's final, two-round mock draft here

Isaiah Evans player profile

• Position: Guard-Forward
• Previous Team: Duke
• 15 points per game
• 3.2 rebounds per game
• 1.3 assists per game
• 43.3 field goal percentage
• 36.1 three-point field goal percentage

2026 Boston Celtics mock draft roundup

• April 6: Cameron Carr
• April 13: Cameron Carr
• April 28: Henri Veesaar
• May 8: Henri Veesaar
• May 10: Henri Veesaar
• May 19: Milan Momcilovic
• May 28: Isaiah Evans
• June 8: Isaiah Evans
• June 15:Isaiah Evans / Emanuel Sharp

Slashes indicate multiple first round selections

2026 NBA Draft first round order

1. Washington Wizards
2. Utah Jazz
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND)
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP)
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
13. Milwaukee Bucks (via MIA)
14. Charlotte Hornets
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI)
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL)
19. Toronto Raptors
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN)
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU)
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE)
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Lakers
26. Denver Nuggets
27. Boston Celtics
28. Brooklyn Nets (via DET)
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS)
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC)