Boston may have found a useful two-for-one with Mitchell Robinson: a center who can help on the floor now and, just as importantly, a veteran voice for Chris Cenac Jr. down the line.
That connection starts with geography. Cenac Jr. and Robinson both grew up in Southern Louisiana, and the rookie said at his inaugural basketball camp in New Orleans that he’s looking forward to talking with the new Celtics big man once the season begins.
“I mean, that’s pretty cool that we both came from South Louisiana,” Cenac said at his camp, via WVUE. “That’s something that we’re definitely going to talk about a little bit more… we were definitely going to have more conversations when the season comes around.”
For a 19-year-old rookie, having Robinson around should be a real benefit. The fit makes sense beyond the shared hometown ties, too.
Both players were highly regarded recruits out of high school - Robinson was ranked eighth, Cenac Jr. sixth - and both slid farther in the draft than their prep profiles suggested. Boston took Cenac Jr. 27th overall in last month’s NBA Draft, while the Knicks grabbed Robinson 36th in 2018.
Robinson has turned that draft slot into a strong NBA run. He became an important piece for New York as the Knicks climbed in the Eastern Conference and eventually won the 2026 NBA title. His value came from doing the little things that swing games: setting hard screens, crashing the offensive glass, and bringing a physical edge when he came off the bench.
That’s the kind of blueprint Cenac Jr. can study up close.
The rookie already flashed plenty of promise at Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 10.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks across four games. The numbers backed up what the eye test showed: he has the bounce to become a serious rebounder and rim protector, and he plays with a level of confidence that stands out right away.
He also arrives with a clear edge.
“All the teams that passed up on me, I’m looking forward to those games,” he added on Monday. “That’s all I got to say.”
In Other News...
Celtics Camp Battle Could End Badly For One Young Big
Amari Williams arrived in Boston with the kind of size and passing feel that can make a young big stand out quickly, and the Celtics have already seen flashes of that in Summer League. They have also used him as a hub early in games, leaning on his ability to move the ball and steady the offense while he works through the usual adjustment period for a second-round pick trying to carve out a role.
The next step is less about what Williams can do with the ball and more about how he handles the grind on the other end, where pick-and-roll defense has been a clear test. Boston and his mentors have pushed him to play with more assertiveness, and training camp and preseason will tell a lot about whether those encouraging stretches are enough to keep his momentum going. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Jaylen Brown Deal Could Still Transform Bostons Future
The Jaylen Brown deal did more than send one of Bostons cornerstone wings to Philadelphia for Paul George and a bundle of future draft assets. It also left the Celtics with a 2028 first-round swap that could matter more than it looks at first glance, because the value of that pick will depend heavily on where the Clippers and 76ers stand by then, along with the shape of Bostons existing draft arrangements.
There is also a broader wrinkle here that could reshape how the league values future picks. The NBAs new 3-2-1 lottery format begins in 2027, expanding the lottery to 16 teams and potentially changing how much protection or upside a swap like this really carries. If the Clippers stay stuck and Philadelphia is good but financially tight, Bostons long view on the return could look a lot different than it does today. [Read more 🡒]
Hugo Gonzalez Just Got A Year 2 Wake Up Call
Hugo Gonzalez turned in a Summer League that looked like the kind of showing that can move a young player forward, but it still did not earn him a spot on either 2026 NBA All-Summer League team. For a Celtics prospect trying to carve out a real place in the rotation, the omission is a reminder that good stretches alone do not always translate into outside recognition, even when the broader impression is encouraging.
The bigger issue for Boston is what comes next. Gonzalez already saw his minutes shrink late last season after Jayson Tatum returned, and he was no longer part of the playoff picture, but he still flashed enough when called on to make the organization pay attention. With Jaylen Brown traded, the Celtics are expected to need more from him in the coming season, which means the next step is not about Summer League honors anymore. It is about whether he can turn that promise into a steadier role when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]