The Celtics have drafted Spanish guard/forward Hugo Gonzalez with the 28th pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
A source tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN that Boston intends to keep the pick and plans to have Gonzalez on the roster in 2025/26 (Twitter link).
Gonzalez, 19, had a limited role off the bench in 2024/25 with Real Madrid, which competes in both the EuroLeague and Liga ACB. In 29 domestic appearances, he averaged 5.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game, with a shooting slash line of .444/.271/.773.
While the 6’6″ wing has a strong frame and showed brief flashes of lottery-type upside, he was hamstrung by his lack of playing time and erratic shooting, writes Givony.
Gonzalez’s offensive calling card is in transition where he’s an aggressive scorer, according to Givony, who says the teenager’s main strengths at this point are his NBA-ready body and versatility on defense.
Assuming the Celtics do bring Gonzalez over immediately, he would bring energy, athleticism and toughness off the bench. Boston has undergone major changes this offseason, trading away starters Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to get under the second tax apron after Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the playoffs.
As a C’s fan: Yuck. Would’ve rather had Fleming. Presume they’ll target Raynaud at 32.
They’ll stash him for a couple of years. They won’t have to pay him. It’s definitely not a sexy pick.
They aren’t stashing him they said. Coming over right away. This is a rebuild year anyways, this dude has a chance to be a diamond in the rough. If it doesn’t work out, nothing changes.
C’s are gonna put up ~50 wins in a “rebuild” year.
Thanks for correcting me on the stashing. This is a In Brad We Trust pick.
@ Bright side….Hugo will be fine man. Probably not right away but he’d be light years ahead of most his peers in fundamentals, game smarts and got an nba body already. Dudes been in the Real Madrid system since he was a kid. He’s not coming from no bush league. He’s 19, he’ll be fine.
Probably just evidence of me being a homer, but after watching Brad’s post-first-round presser, I’m a believer in Hugo. Brad raved about his compete level and ability to drive while noting he still had some areas to grow in (presumably shooting). He really seemed to put a lot of weight into the level of competition level and tradition that Real Madrid plays with (and equated the latter to the C’s history), which I thought was pretty interesting. Has been around high-level pros for years already. Also mentioned he was “used to sitting.” Haha
common reaction to most european picks
some comment experts even preferred ayton, bagley and young to doncic here in he comments ffs…
Nice generalization, man! Nothing about him being a Euro prospect devalues him in my eyes. I just wanted some more size or rim protection from #28. Getting Amari Williams at #46 ain’t bad though.
well its a common reaction to european players sadly, cause you haven’t watched play extensively in the us
do you remember the thumbs down for porzingis?
I already mentioned that most people here were preferring not one but 3 players in front of doncic, while european fans like me regarded him a generational talent
I do! But for every Porzingis, there is a Hezonja, who was right behind him in that draft. I think most of the disdain you sometimes see comes from the fact that up until like 10 years ago, a lot of European guys who were drafted never saw more than Summer League. How about the run of guys the Spurs drafted who never saw NBA time? So many draft and stashes who never saw NBA minutes. Or Fran Vasquez, first rounder in 2005? A lot of really, really talented players, it’s just a bit harder to sometimes estimate how they’ll play in an NBA system or even do with American culture.
He needs time to develop.
I remember Celts drafting a couple similar picks to Hugo Gonzalez before. A guard from Israel, Yam Madar in 2020, and another project, Juhann Begarin from Guadeloupe in 2021. Both played Summer League. Neither made it here. Hopefully Hugo will prove different.
israel has nowhere the same talent production as spain has
france on the other hand has but Begarin was 45th pick, they rarely contribute regardless of their nationality
He was projected to go at 24 in some mocks.
Juhann Begarin Will play in the NBA. Guerschon Yabusele should have been stashed to and now he is in the NBA. Walsh and Davison should contribute this year.