Chris Cenac Jr. blocks four shots vs. Cleveland

While Chris Cenac is not likely to impact fantasy leagues this season, it’s nice to see what he was able to do in the start. Embiid was a difficult matchup who got him into foul trouble. Cenac has the tools to be an impactful player, but his decision making held him back in college. He likes to being coached hard, which will make him a good fit for Mazzulla. In dynasty leagues, you will have to be patient this year and pay attention to flashes in the G League this year.

After coming off the bench in his first two summer league games, Cenac moved into the Celtics’ starting lineup on Monday. And as he did in his summer debut, the first-round pick out of Houston blocked four shots. Cenac was also responsible for five turnovers, but there should not be too much concern about that category. As long as he’s active on defense and on the glass, there should be opportunities for Cenac to contribute this season, even with Boston improving its frontcourt depth by signing Mitchell Robinson.

In his lone college season, Cenac shot 30-of-90 from beyond the arc; it wasn’t a major aspect of his game. On Friday, he shot 2-of-4 from deep, including one in the final seconds of regulation that forced overtime. Of greater importance to the Celtics was Cenac’s activity as a rebounder and defender, as he recorded 10 rebounds and five defensive contributions. Boston’s depth in the post should give Cenac time to develop, but he’ll be a solid option for managers competing in dynasty leagues.

There were some questions regarding Cenac’s motor before he entered college, and playing for Kelvin Sampson at Houston was an excellent way to address that. Making 36 starts in his lone college season, the 6-foot-11 forward/center averaged 9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks in 24.8 minutes, shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 62.1 percent from the foul line. While his current athleticism and competitiveness as a rebounder and defender are why Cenac is a first-round pick, his long-term value will be determined by how much progress he can make offensively. Boston has decent depth at center, with Neemias Queta leading the group. Cenac will get time to develop in Boston, though he likely won’t play much of a role early on.