​The Boston Celtics will take the floor for the first time since their disappointing first‑round exit to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference playoffs, as they kick off Friday night’s action against the Toronto Raptors at 9 p.m. ET to begin their Las Vegas Summer League run. Boston is slated to play four games in the Summer League, with a potential semifinal on July 18 and the Summer League Finals on July 19.
Regulars like Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard will not participate, but there are several noteworthy storylines to watch during the Summer League, so here are three big ones. Gonzalez logged 74 games last season, averaging four points per game and proving to be a valuable contributor when Tatum was sidelined due to his Achilles injury. Tatum played only 16 games last season as he recovered, and Gonzalez looks positioned to be the Celtics’ leader in Las Vegas. How that leadership translates will be telling: Can he score more easily, serve as a floor leader, and function as a playmaker?
Gonzalez demonstrated all of these facets with Spain during the recent FIBA qualifiers, so Celtics fans should expect more of the same from him in this summer stint. While Summer League play doesn’t necessarily predict the Celtics’ approach for the 2026-27 season, it remains a point of curiosity. After finishing last season among the league’s most three-point–dependent teams, Brad Stevens has spoken about pursuing more balance. Will that balance show up in Las Vegas, especially with rookie Chris Cenac Jr. helping anchor the interior? Or will the Celtics lean into a fast-paced, perimeter-heavy attack? Amile Jefferson, a Celtics staff member who is coaching the squad, should have a unique voice shaping the style of play.
Speaking of Cenac, this Summer League marks the first opportunity for Celtics fans to see the first-round pick from Houston, along with Dillon Mitchell, Boston’s second-round pick from St. John’s. Cenac is a 6-foot-11 center from New Orleans who played for Kelvin Sampson at Houston, appearing in 37 games, starting 36, and averaging 25 minutes per game with 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds. He’s long and athletic, adding 0.5 blocks and 0.8 steals per contest. In the game against Auburn in Birmingham, Cenac helped Houston secure a narrow 73-72 win, showcasing the potential he brings to the Celtics’ frontcourt.
Mitchell, who began his college career at Texas, started 38 games as a true freshman, averaging 4.3 points per game before transferring to Cincinnati, where he posted 9.6 points per game as a sophomore. He then played for St. John’s in his senior year, averaging 8.3 points and seven rebounds while contributing three assists per game. Mitchell stands at 6-foot-8 and brings a versatile scoring and rebounding profile to Boston’s roster.
As the Celtics navigate this Summer League slate, fans should keep an eye on how this mix of veterans, developing youngsters, and newly drafted talent coalesces around the team’s evolving identity. The path to a more balanced offensive approach, the interior development with Cenac Jr., and the leadership role Gonzalez could assume all promise to shape the Summer League narrative—and potentially signal how Boston plans to build for the 2026-27 season.
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