Chris Cenac took the draft slide hard, but his college coach thinks Boston may have turned the night into a win anyway.
Cenac had been eyeing a landing spot somewhere in the 19-to-24 range, with Toronto, Philadelphia and New York all holding picks in that window after he worked out for those teams. Instead, the Celtics grabbed him at No.
- Kelvin Sampson told Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe that he tried to reframe the disappointment fast.
“I said, ‘Chris, I’m glad those teams didn’t take you,’” Sampson told Himmelsbach. “Then when Boston took him, I said, ‘They believe in you, Chris.
You went to the right team.’ (President of basketball operations) Brad Stevens is one of the best basketball people in the world, and I’ve been so impressed with (coach) Joe Mazzulla.”
Sampson pointed to Boston’s reputation for getting the most out of role players, calling the organization’s “culture” a real asset. He also said Cenac’s skill set fits the Celtics’ long-running pattern of big men who can stretch the floor.
“I don’t know that (Payton) Pritchard would be a great player everywhere, but he made it in Boston, and I don’t think it was a coincidence that it was in Boston,” Sampson said. “ Jayson Tatum is going to be good everywhere, but some of those other guys might not be. I think Chris can develop there.”
The Celtics’ off-court picture also came up this week when owner Bill Chisholm talked about TD Garden on WEEI. The building opened in 1995 and is now the seventh-oldest arena in the league. Chisholm said he doesn’t currently see a need for a new home, though he stopped short of closing the door on the idea down the road.
“I think we’ve got a really good partner right now on that front and we’ve got a really good location,” Chisholm said. “So making sure that we’re all aligned on that objective, which is creating the best fan and player experience possible and make sure we don’t lose focus on what really matters, which is putting up banners.”
Mike Conley, meanwhile, made it clear why Boston was his choice in free agency. In the team’s “Behind the Banners” documentary series, the veteran point guard said he had other options, but the Celtics were the destination he wanted.
“Too excited,” he said. “This is a legendary organization.
I’ve been a fan of the game for a long time. The Celtics have been at the forefront of that.
Just excited to be here.”
And Payton Pritchard said last month’s trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia didn’t exactly catch him off guard. Speaking with Bobby Manning of CLNS Media, Pritchard described the move as part of the modern NBA’s constant churn.
“It’s a part of the business. So, nothing’s actually really that shocking to me anymore,” Pritchard said.
“You’re just used to seeing big things, and I think changes happen all the time. It always sucks to see a brother and a teammate that you played with for a long time go, but you move on, and you get ready to go to war against him.”
In Other News...
Payton Pritchards Jaylen Brown Reaction Says A Lot About Bostons Next Step
Payton Pritchard did not spend much time dwelling on Jaylen Browns move to Philadelphia, at least not publicly. Speaking after the trade, the Celtics guard framed it the way players often do when the business side of the league lands hardest: as part of the job, and as another chance to absorb what a teammate like Brown taught him along the way. Pritchard also said the teams group chat has not turned into a postmortem on the deal, which is usually a sign that the roster is already shifting its attention to the next phase.
That next phase arrives quickly, with Boston set to open preseason against the Cavaliers on Oct. 8 before hosting the 76ers two days later. Pritchards focus on his own game fits the moment, because the Celtics are about to find out what their new shape looks like in real time, and one of the first chances to measure it will come against Brown in a Philadelphia uniform. The early days of camp and preseason tend to reveal what a team is ready to say out loud and what it is still sorting through quietly. [Read more 🡒]
Payton Pritchard Could Gain Something Huge From Mike Conley
Payton Pritchard has already grown into an important part of Bostons rotation, but the Celtics summer moves suggest there is still room for him to sharpen the finer points of running an offense. After trading Jaylen Brown, the front office went into the offseason looking to build a better support system around Jayson Tatum and Paul George, and the addition of Mike Conley Jr. fits neatly into that plan. Conley brings the kind of veteran steadiness and point guard know-how that can help a player like Pritchard keep expanding his game.
For Boston, this is about more than just filling out the depth chart. Conley is expected to provide leadership and mentorship to younger players, and Pritchard stands out as one of the clearest beneficiaries because of how much he can still absorb about the position. The Celtics do not need him to become a different player, but if Conley can help him see the floor a little better and manage the offense with more control, that is the sort of quiet upgrade that can matter once the games get tight. [Read more 🡒]
Respected Coach Just Validated The Celtics Path For Their New Rookie
The Celtics rookie pipeline got an encouraging public nod this week from a coach who has spent plenty of time around high-level talent. Houstons Kelvin Sampson spoke positively about Chris Cenac Jr. after Boston drafted him, pointing to the organizations development program and coaching staff as a place where a young player can grow with structure around him. For a team that has built a lot of its recent success on maximizing role players and prospects alike, praise like that lands as more than just polite draft-season chatter.
It also fits the way Boston tends to sell its path to newcomers: earn your opportunity, trust the work, and let the staff help sort out the rest. Cenacs arrival gives the Celtics another young piece to track, and Sampsons endorsement adds outside validation at a time when player fit and long-term growth matter as much as raw talent. The next question is how quickly Boston turns that promise into a real role, but the framework around it already looks familiar. [Read more 🡒]