Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics faced a disappointing early playoff exit in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, losing to Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games. Shooting guard Jaylen Brown was traded following the playoff exit to the 76ers themselves.
Team President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens was criticized by fans for the return of Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the trade package for the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. With star forward Jayson Tatum and head coach Mazzulla both spending their entire careers in Beantown with Brown at shooting guard, Boston will undoubtedly look different for the 2026-27 NBA season.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
A player selected by Boston during the 2026 NBA Draft to help replace Brown is forward Dillon Mitchell, who was selected by the Celtics with the No. 40 overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft. The C.E. King High School graduate was a consensus five-star prospect, with the McDonald's All-American originally committing to Texas to play for the Longhorns before transferring to play for the Cincinnati Bearcats.
The 22-year-old spent his senior season with Rick Pitino and his St. John's Red Storm, averaging 8.3 points per game while shooting 55.9% from the field to go along with 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Due to a recent NCAA court ruling, it appears Mitchell now has the eligibility to return for another year of college basketball.
The NCAA filed the appeal on Sunday in opposition to the recent district court ruling allowing all Division I athletes to play for a fifth season. A ruling by U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver ruled that athletes from the high school class of 2022 will be granted a fifth year of eligibility beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
"NEW: Celtics rookie Dillon Mitchell could return to college basketball next season," Dalzell wrote. "Thanks to a new court ruling that grants him (and many others) a fifth year of eligibility."
The ruling opens a special transfer portal window that starts on Monday and will close in one week.
