{"id":348132,"date":"2026-06-24T05:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T05:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/348132\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T05:56:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T05:56:13","slug":"celtics-select-houston-freshman-forward-chris-cenac-jr-no-27-in-nba-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/348132\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics select Houston freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr. No. 27 in NBA Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stevens said he has tried to be as transparent as possible with Brown throughout the offseason.<\/a> He said the two met in May, and then again about two weeks ago, before Brown departed for a trip overseas. Stevens said he has also spoken to Brown\u2019s agent, Jason Glushon, frequently over the past week.<\/p>\n

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\"WhileWhile he maintained there were open lines of communication between the Celtics and Jaylen Brown’s camp, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens may have some difficult conversations ahead explaining why Brown was dangled as a trade piece for Giannis Antetokounmpo.David L. Ryan\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n

He declined to go into detail about his discussions with Brown, saying simply that they were \u201cgood\u201d and \u201ccandid,\u201d but he stressed that maintaining comfortable lines of communication was important.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not easy to be in the national rumor mill,\u201d Stevens said. \u201cI\u2019m extremely understanding of that. So, yeah, there always has to be discussions. I just keep going back to this. That\u2019s why I just try to be as up front as possible and as candid as possible at the beginning, long before any talks begin.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur guys understand that being here and being in the limelight, they\u2019re going to have a lot of attention on them regardless, and then they also understand that there are things that are exaggerated at this time of the year and there are things that are real, so they\u2019ve been through all that stuff and felt all that stuff. But it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even after the failed attempt to acquire Antetokounmpo, multiple reports surfaced that the Celtics were fielding calls from other teams interested in trading for Brown. The first round of the draft\u2014an important period for trades likely to involve draft capital\u2014came and went without any signs of momentum toward a deal, however.<\/p>\n

Stevens was asked late Tuesday if he believed Brown would be a Celtic at the start of next season.<\/p>\n

\u201cJaylen Brown is a big part of us,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m never going to predict the future. Every indication, everything that I think about over the past few years has been building around those guys, right? Obviously, you never know. But at the same time, I think the one thing that I want to make very clear is how valued he\u2019s always been. He\u2019s been amazing. He\u2019s been an amazing teammate. Great person to be around. Whether that run ends 10 years from now when he retires or before, there\u2019s a lot to celebrate. We have a great relationship and an open relationship where we talk about everything. But I don\u2019t want to predict the future. I look at it as, this is our team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AtAt Houston last season, freshman forward Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 5) averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.Karen Warren\/Associated Press<\/p>\n

And Cenac is now the latest addition. The forward was one of the last players remaining at the Barclays Center for Tuesday night\u2019s draft. But the Celtics ensured that it would be worth the wait when they selected him 27th overall.<\/p>\n

Cenac averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the Cougars this past season. He is viewed as a mobile, athletic big man with good defensive instincts and versatility. His offensive game remains raw, but he has shown some potential as a shooter and is still just 19 years old. Cenac shot 48.5 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the 3-point line and 62.1 percent from the foul line.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just a good young player.\u201d Stevens said. \u201cEnergetic, plays hard, excellent athlete, long. Fits a position of need, some things that we were a little short on this year from an athletic perspective, I think with his size and his length. And when you play in the program he\u2019s played for, he\u2019s been taught well and been held to a high standard. I like that, and he will undoubtedly come here and be eager to jump into it. He\u2019s a good worker, he\u2019s a good person, and he\u2019s got a lot to learn, but we\u2019re excited about starting that process with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking in New York, Cenac echoed that sentiment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I can definitely be a piece that helps the team a lot,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m the type of guy that\u2019s willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. I\u2019m going to come in and play hard, defend, rebound, space the floor, make shots. I\u2019m ready to get to Boston. I\u2019m ready to get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach<\/a>.<\/p>\n