Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of followers throughout the NBA. All year long we ask questions of essentially the most plugged-in Celtics followers and followers throughout the nation. Join right here to take part within the weekly emailed surveys.
With the draft within the rearview and the Celtics staring at the beginning of free company and (hopefully) a conclusion to this Jaylen Brown commerce saga, it’s been an eventful final two weeks in Boston. However for anyone who misses the squeaking of sneakers on the parquet, we’re additionally only a week away from precise basketball. The NBA Summer season League begins on July ninth in Las Vegas with Boston enjoying on Friday and Sunday to kick off their exhibition schedule subsequent week.
Frankly, it’ll be a pleasant break from all of the drama.
On the draft, the Celtics chosen Chris Cenac Jr. with the twenty seventh decide within the first spherical and on Night time 2, went with Dillon Mitchell at #40. Each will likely be at The Strip for his or her first NBA motion. Tatum’s buddy from their Duke days, Amile Jefferson, would be the head coach.
Cenac was the fifth ranked highschool participant in 2025 earlier than being coached laborious as a system participant below Kelvin Sampson at The College of Houston. As CelticsBlog’s Wealthy Jensen writes:
Chris didn’t select a faculty that will give him star therapy. He went with a coach who promised solely that he would make him a greater participant. Faculty was not a reward for being probably the greatest of the perfect, it was simply one other cease on the highway.
Many draft specialists love the child’s potential and a standout efficiency from Cenac could be a good way to begin off his profession in Boston.
Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams are additionally anticipated to go well with up for the Summer season Celtics. Williams not too long ago inked a brand new take care of the workforce to return on a two-way contract and Joe Mazzulla simply spent a while in Spain with Gonzalez as he preps for FIBA play. For the sophomores, Summer season League is an effective proving floor to point out that final season’s success wasn’t a fluke and what new issues they’ve been engaged on for the reason that season ended.
Nevertheless, if a decision hasn’t been reached, all eyes could be on Jaylen Brown and Brad Stevens. Historically, gamers, coaches, and entrance workplace employees additionally attend the Vegas proceedings to help the workforce, however that doesn’t imply there gained’t be rigidity in Thomas & Mack or Cox Pavilion. Again in 2018, Marcus Sensible and his agent attended a number of video games whereas he was nonetheless negotiating with Danny Ainge on a brand new deal, even going so far as speaking with brass of different groups. May there be a clumsy or encouraging second between Stevens and Brown amid all of the drama? If there may be, nicely, let’s simply hope that no matter occurs in Vegas stays in Vegas.
