Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston) and Dillon Mitchell (St. John's) met the media for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.
A week after getting drafted by the Boston Celtics, center Chris Cenac Jr. and forward Dillon Mitchell met the media in their new home for the first time on Tuesday.
Both players spoke about what it meant to be drafted by the organization, how they can fit in, what they'll bring to the table and much more.
The Celtics are coming off a 56-26 regular season that saw them earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Even though Boston lost in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers, it's still a deep roster that both players will have to earn playing time on.
About Cenac
Drafted with the No. 27 overall pick out of Houston, Cenac should help the Celtics get more balanced. A perimeter-oriented team for years, the C's are looking to get more of an inside presence, and Cenac is certainly that.
A 6-foot-11 center from New Orleans, Cenac played for Kelvin Sampson with the Cougars, seeing time in 37 games. He started 36 of those contests, playing 25 minutes a game and averaging 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds. Long and athletic, he also averaged 0.5 blocks per night and he also had 0.8 steals.
He figures to split time with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza at the center spot, and there's always the option that Boston brings in someone else via a trade of Jaylen Brown, which is a possibility.
About Mitchell
A four-year collegiate player who played at three different schools, Mitchell played an integral role in St. Johns's continued turnaround under Rick Pitino, helping the Red Storm earn a No. 5 seed in this past year's NCAA Tournament.
Mitchell began his career at Texas, starting 38 games as a true freshman and averaging 4.3 ppg before scoring 9.6 as a sophomore. He transferred to Cincinnati as a junior, scoring 9.9 ppg before landing at St. John's for his senior year. He averaged 8.3 ppg and seven rebounds while also dishing three assists per game.
He's listed at 6-foot-8. He was an All-Big East selection this season. Like Cenac, he played for a legendary coach whic should give him a leg up on other rookies around the league.
He's also not a perimeter threat, and will aid the Celtics in their quest to get better around the rim.
When will we see them on the floor?
The Celtics will begin their NBA Summer League schedule on July 10. Boston will play the Toronto Raptors on that date before facing the Charlotte Hornets on July 12, the Atlanta Hawks on July 13 and the Sacramento Kings on July 15. Games will split broadcast networks between ESPN, ESPN2 and Amazon Prime.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Remember to join our CELTICS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Celtics fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
