Boston’s summer league wrapped with two rookie names giving the Celtics something to watch closely: Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell.
They arrived in different ways. Cenac spent one season at Houston.
Mitchell took the longer route, playing four years in college and finishing at St. John’s.
By the end of summer league, both had shown enough to make the next step feel a little more real.
Mitchell got his run in Boston’s first three games before sitting out the final two. In that stretch, he put up 13 points and 5 rebounds per game, along with 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks. His strongest outing came against the Charlotte Hornets in the second game, when he dropped 24 points on 10-20 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds and swiped six steals.
The biggest question around Mitchell entering the NBA was always his shot. That was the issue in college, too, where the Florida native shot 11-57 (19.3) from three over his career and 1-15 (6.7) in his final season.
In summer league, he looked more comfortable from deep, going 3-8 (37.5) from three. It’s a tiny sample, but it was still a welcome sign.
Just as important, the defensive activity and athletic pop that got him drafted were on full display.
Cenac’s summer was a little different. He played in Boston’s first four games and then sat out the finale against the Orlando Magic.
The offense is still coming together. He shot 36.6% from the field and 27.3% from three, while averaging 10.5 points per game.
Even so, there were flashes of why Boston is intrigued. His jumper looked solid, and he showed some ability to create for himself.
The next step for him is simple: more reps, more offensive comfort, more chances to grow.
Where Cenac really stood out was on the glass and at the rim. He averaged 8 rebounds per game and posted two double-doubles, which fits right in with what he did in college as one of the better rebounders in the country.
The block numbers were a concern for a 19-year-old center, but he answered that in summer league by averaging 2.8 blocks per game. His athleticism also showed up in a handful of defensive plays that turned heads.
As for what comes next, Mitchell looks like the likelier candidate to spend most of the season in Maine. He made progress, but Boston’s forward group is crowded, and that makes a rotation spot hard to win. Still, there’s a path for him to land the Celtics’ final roster spot rather than a two-way, since that would avoid the luxury tax and free up another two-way slot for Boston.
Cenac’s situation is a little more open-ended. He could get into some games, but consistent minutes don’t seem likely.
Outside of Hugo Gonzalez last season, the Celtics under Joe Mazzulla haven’t leaned heavily on rookies. With health concerns around both Paul George and Mitchell Robinson, Cenac could see some action beyond garbage time, but not regular rotation minutes.
Even if the payoff isn’t immediate, both rookies left summer league with reasons to believe they can help Boston down the road.
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