Chris Cenac gets 12 and 8 in start

Cenac struggling with his shot in his unofficial Celtics debut was unsurprising, as he’s still a work in progress offensively. Still, the first-round pick out of Houston played with a high motor and posted solid numbers in rebounds and blocks. Given Boston’s expected rotation, Cenac will face tough odds to lock down minutes once the regular season begins. However, he is a player you have to roster in dynasty leagues.

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.