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NBA·TRANSACTION·July 4, 2026 04:08 AM ET

Celtics Fans Shift Focus to Chris Cenac Jr. and Summer League After Jaylen Brown Trade

Boston's rookies become the story after Brown exits.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 42 min read
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Why it matters: The Brown trade removes a franchise cornerstone, so Boston's path back to contention leans on the newcomers developing quickly alongside veteran additions Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley. Cenac entered his Houston season projected as a lottery pick before sliding to 27, and Summer League is his first chance to show why fans are buying in — he has framed his game around defense, rebounding and doing whatever a winning team needs.

By the numbers: Cenac averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game at Houston, where teammate Kingston Flemings rose to the No. Gonzalez posted 16 points, five rebounds and five assists on 4-of-7 three-point shooting in Spain's FIBA qualifier Thursday. Brown and Jayson Tatum went 332-167 in the regular season and 73-48 in the playoffs over nine years together in Boston.

What to watch: Cenac, Gonzalez, Mitchell and Williams take the floor in Las Vegas next weekend, with Gonzalez expected to join despite his Spanish national-team duties.

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