Chris Cenac Jr. possesses a lot of defensive potential because of his mobility and versatility (can guard multiple positions in, around, and outside the paint), and that's what made him such an intriguing draft pick for the Boston Celtics last month.
And through his first few games in summer league, he's showing a different side of his defensive prowess: his shot-blocking.
In his lone season as a Houston Cougar, Cenac recorded 18 blocks in 37 games (0.5 blocks per game). Through his first three games in summer league, he has recorded nine (3 blocks per game). That includes a four-block performance against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Chris Cenac Jr. has already shown flashes in summer league
What's impressive about Cenac's presence as a shot-blocker (again, in summer league) is that they're not all easy blocks. He's contested one-on-one shots, chased some blocks down, and swatted shots as a help defender. The 19-year-old seems to have solid defensive awareness, which isn't always easy to teach.
Cenac has had some downs throughout summer league to this point (inconsistent shooting, ok rebounding, has turned the ball over a lot, gets into foul trouble quickly), but he was always considered a bit of a project, and he's already showcasing a ton of talent.
It's still likely that he will spend a lot of his rookie season in Maine to work on his skills (especially since we still don't really know what his position is going to be at the NBA level), but he is already showing some important improvements in summer league, and there are now even more reasons to believe he can be a real contributor in Boston.
Chris Cenac Jr. can be a long-term asset to the Celtics
There's a reason many believe the Celtics may have gotten the steal of the draft in Cenac. He has the tools and talent to succeed at the NBA level, but he needs time to further develop and polish his game.
Cenac can also bolster the Celtics' frontcourt depth for the short- and long-term. If he can develop into the player a lot of people think he can (and he's already shown some of those flashes), then he could become the team's center of the future.
The New Orleans native has a lot of potential, and Celtics fans should be excited about his outlook with the team. And if his play in summer league is any indication, he should only be getting better from here on out.
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