Summer League basketball might be for the sickos, but if you’re reading this and preparing to watch every Celtics game in Las Vegas, I happily welcome you to the club of unwell basketball enjoyers.
The Celtics project to have one two-way contract up for grabs after Amari Williams signed his deal and Dillion Mitchell got drafted 40th overall, but the possibility for guys to slide into the Maine Celtics system means some of these faces will remain familiar into the season.
For them, it’s a showcase to fight for NBA opportunities. For us, it’s a chance to get out of the offseason headspace for a little bit, and casually enjoy some basketball.
Let’s take a moment to get to know the faces of this year’s Summer League Celtics.
Mohammad Amini
An undrafted international prospect, the Iranian forward spent the last two seasons with SLUC Nancy in the LNB Elite. That’s the top level in France, and Amini carved out a modest role at Nancy, serving up efficient scoring inside the arc.
A 6’7” wing, Amini averaged 8 points on 50% efficiency in 27 games, though he struggled from three (26%) and from the free throw line (62.5%). He’s a composed slasher with the build to power through contact, and his touch around the short mid-range area is sound.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo had the 21-year-old Amini ranked 97th on his draft big board.
Chris Cenac Jr.
We’ve talked at length about Cenac’s game and what brought him to Boston with the 27th pick, so we’ll focus on the things I’d like to see from the latest first round pick:
1) Glass dominance: Cenac’s greatest trait from what we saw in his lone season at Houston was his ability to win on the glass, particularly on the offensive end. He tracks the ball extremely well both because of his 7-foot-5 wingspan and legitimate instincts to get into the right spots. The Summer League Celtics have plenty of creators, I want to see Cenac be a play finisher.
2) Shooting confidence: Cenac was a willing outside shooter last season, shooting three attempts per game from beyond the arc, but was just 33% on those looks. Not an egregious number, but Cenac hasn’t proven to be a reliable threat from distance. This is a chance to see where his progress is at. Pick-and-pops at the top of the arc and spot-ups from the corner are the shots he’s looked most comfortable taking, and those are what I want to see in Vegas.
3) Rim Protection: Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson asked a lot out of Cenac at the 5. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but Cenac was praised for his work ethic and commitment even if he wasn’t always comfortable away from the basket. It wasn’t the best shot-blocking season, but Cenac showed potential to be a fleet-footed 5 with ball-denying instincts. Cenac is the second-tallest player on the Summer League roster behind Amari Williams, so expect plenty of opportunities for Cenac to work as the center defending the rim.
Tucker DeVries
Signing an Exhibit 10 contract along with Milos Uzan, Tucker DeVries will have a shot at a two-way contract with opportunities both in Vegas and in training camp.
The 6-foot-7 DeVries was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year at Drake before following his dad and head coach Darian DeVries to West Virginia and, most recently, Indiana.
At Indiana, he averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, though his efficiency dipped from his usual averages, finishing 40% from the field and 33% from three.
Despite a down-year shooting, DeVries has unwavering shooting confidence. He attempted 998 threes in his college career and connected on 36% of them. He’s an active off-ball mover and a strong floor-connecting presence with his ball movement. The potential to work off-ball and as a pick-and-roll threat are there for DeVries. Think Joe Ingles, and you’ll have a good idea of DeVries’ skillset and basketball IQ.
An older rookie, the 23-year-old DeVries is a possible standout among the non-guaranteed Summer League Celtics fighting for their NBA breakthrough.
Hugo Gonzalez
Chances are, it’ll be a brief appearance for Hugo in his second Summer League. He’s primed for a major minutes jump in Year 2 after the Jaylen Brown-Paul George blockbuster, and there really aren’t many question marks with where his game is heading.
Hugo was a jolt of energy every time he stepped on the floor, with the groundwork of his offense mostly coming off catch-and-shoot threes, transition attacks and the occasional drive into his patented euro-step.
Hugo’s Summer League should provide more chances to put the ball in his hands. Unlike last year’s Summer League team, there are more on-ball guards to run offense, but Hugo’s flashed even more on-ball potential this summer with the Spanish national team at the World Cup qualifiers.
This is just another chance to foster excitement for what should be a very strong sophomore season.
Caleb Grill
It’ll be a bit of a reunion trip for Caleb Grill when he plays at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. Grill, 26 years old, played one year of college at UNLV, along with seasons at Iowa State and Missouri.
In his last season at Missouri, Grill was named SEC Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 14 points off the bench and shooting 40% from three.
Last year, Grill’s first season as a pro was spent between spots with the Greensboro Swarm and Windy City Bulls, and in 27 games, he averaged 10 points and 3.5 rebounds on 44/38/71 shooting splits.
Grill’s calling card is his off-ball shooting. A 6’3” guard, he’s a plus-athlete that can really burst into space and leave defenders in the dust. His production stayed consistent between college and the G League, and he’ll come into the Vegas showcase looking to fire away to show off his shooting marksmanship for another pro opportunity.
Curtis Jones
An undrafted rookie out of Iowa State last year, Curtis Jones was, essentially, a Summer League star last July. He averaged 26 points in 20 minutes for the Nuggets, shot 55% from the field and 47% from three, and grabbed 8 rebounds with 7 assists and 1.4 steals.
He was a beast, and it earned him a two-way contract in Denver, which offered him 10 appearances with the top squad and 41 with the Grand Rapids Gold. He was a 21-point scorer on 40/36/84 splits with the Gold, while also grabbing 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Rookie season highlights include a 40-point, 8-rebound game against the Capital City Go-Go, and a 13-point game on perfect 4-for-4 3-point shooting in Denver’s regular season finale against the Spurs.
A good shooter with a multi-faceted skillset and defensive upside, Jones is likely going to be a favorite for that third two-way spot, and another great Summer League will go a long way in keeping him around Boston.
Kyle Mangas
Like Curtis Jones, Kyle Mangas is also in search of his second two-way contract.
Mangas’ journey to pro basketball is truly interesting. He played NAIA Division II hoops at Indiana Wesleyan, earning player of the year honors twice, then made pro-league stops in Czech, Lithuanian and Canadian leagues before a two-way opportunity opened up with the Spurs. That opportunity lasted just nine days before he was waived.
He’s played 100 G League games dating back to 2023, and has proven to be a very solid scoring threat at that level. Last year with the Austin Spurs, he averaged 17 points on 45/40/76 splits along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal per game.
For a good time, watch his 45-point career high against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. It’s an impressive shooting display, and for what it’s worth, he accounted for 42% of his team’s scoring total.
The 27-year-old, 6-foot-4 guard can light it up on the G League stage, so the opportunity to do the same in the Summer League isn’t far-fetched.
Dillon Mitchell
Mitchell is essentially a lock for a two-way spot after getting selected early in the second round and being showered in praise by Mike Zarren in his post-draft press conference.
This will be an exciting opportunity for unfamiliar fans to see just how dynamic Mitchell can be on defense. He is all over the court making plays, pairing a developed build with high-level athleticism to turn defense into offense.
His open-floor speed and intelligent glue-guy tendencies should also flash. Paired with Hugo Gonzalez, the perimeter defense will be in good hands.
Don’t expect huge numbers from Mitchell, but prepare to be wowed by his energy, his shot-blocking, his rebounding, all the little things that can turn a second round pick into a fan favorite.
Hank Morgan
I wrote a story on Hank Morgan’s journey to the Maine Celtics last season that you can find here, but to summarize, he was the G League’s only Division III player last season, joining with the Celtics not long after the trade deadline after spending a portion of the season with the Salt Lake City Stars along with John Tonje (who we’ll get to in a minute).
A 6-foot-5 forward with a sharpshooter’s touch from deep, Morgan was a 40% 3-point shooter and 47% shooter in 24 G League games. While not a high-volume player, Morgan took advantage of the looks that came his way, and it must’ve reflected well on the Celtics staff, as he’ll get an additional look from the organization this summer.
His claim to G League fame was against the Osceola Magic, when he hit 6-of-7 threes for a 22-point outing in March. It was that game where the Maine social media team affectionately began referring to him as “No Dip Hank.”
It’s pretty miraculous for any DIII athlete to earn a professional opportunity, but Morgan was a unique case last year, standing alone amongst college stars, first round picks, and career G Leaguers hoping to earn that NBA promotion.
Nick Pringle
A 6-foot-10 power forward that had five college stops, including a JUCO stint at Dodge City Community College, Nick Pringle finished with 33 starts at Arkansas alongside draftees Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas in a season that ended in the Sweet Sixteen.
Though never a stat-stuffer in any of his college years, averaging 5 points and 4 rebounds this past season, Pringle flashes exciting athletic upside. He’s got strength, post-up finesse, and serious above-the-rim finishing. His face-up game is also respectable.
Above all though, Pringle is a tough rebounder that owns his space and really battles to come down with the ball. If there’s an area to watch out for in Vegas, it’s this one.
Day Day Thomas
After two years of JUCO hoops and three at Cincinnati, Day Day Thomas enters the pro game with a background as a reliable 3-point shooter and defensive ace.
His 61 steals in his first year with the Bearcats ranks fourth in a single season in program history, and he finished his college career averaging 1.5 steals per game. Despite being an undersized 6-foot-1 guard, he made up for this with constant on-ball pressure, quick hands, and the speed to recover on help and around screens.
As a shooter, he jumped up from 28% 3-point shooting to 40% on the same volume in his first two years before ending his college career converting at a 38% clip as a graduate student.
Cincinnati’s lead guard, Thomas was a pretty balanced showrunner. He flashed good passing vision (3.5 assists to 1.7 turnovers last year), rebounding effort (3 rebounds) and the ability to create his own shot, particularly from deep. He was a double-figure scorer in all three seasons with the Bearcats, averaging 10.7 points for his Division I career.
Feeding in passes to Clippers rookie Baba Miller, Cincinnati could really run the floor and push the pace. Perhaps we’ll see the same next to Cenac.
John Tonje
We weren’t quite sure if John Tonje would be back after the Celtics didn’t pick up his qualifying offer, but now that we know he’s Summer League-bound, it’s good to see him return.
Tonje split time as a two-way between the Celtics and the Jazz last season, moving over to Boston at the deadline through the Chris Boucher trade and impressing in Maine with averages of 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 steal. He was a 44% shooter from the field and 35% from three, mostly getting his buckets by slashing inside.
The 53rd pick of the 2025 draft out of Wisconsin, Tonje’s slashing ability has been his trademark for some time, blending downhill physicality with an impressive first step. He always has an attacking mindset, and it transitioned smoothly in the G League.
He earned a standard contract late in the season with Boston, featuring in six games, including a 13-point effort in the season finale against Orlando where he hit three of his eight 3-pointers.
He’ll have to really impress to compete for that final two-way roster spot, but Tonje is a familiar face that’s already proven he can be a bucket at the G League level. At 25 years old, he’s less of a developmental pick for that final contract and more of a Ron Harper Jr. pick as someone you want to see dominate at the lower level while seamlessly sliding into a complimentary role if called upon in Boston.
Milos Uzan
The first undrafted signee for Boston from this year’s draft, Milos Uzan was one of the bigger names to not get called, and there’s certainly a reason to get excited about his opportunity on an Exhibit 10 contract.
A starter for 133 of his 141 games between Oklahoma and Houston, Uzan was a key contributor in Houston’s run to the NCAA Championship in 2025, averaging 11 points, 4 assists and a steal on efficient 45/43/78 splits. He showcases maturity running offense, great body control through contact, and a reliable float game, on top of his efficient outside shooting and playmaking vision.
The ball wasn’t in his hands quite as much this past year due to the arrival of Kingston Flemings, though Uzan still averaged 11 points and 4 assists, albeit on lower efficiency with slightly higher shooting volume (38/34/74 splits).
The 6’4” guard has NBA traits and a balanced skillset. The ability to run offense, operate in the pick-and-roll, and find his own shot is going to be on full display in the Summer League, and with a good enough showing and Boston likely riding into the season with a need for more backcourt depth, Uzan has a real chance to stick around and find his place on the roster.
Chauncey Wiggins
A 6’10” stretch big from Florida State and Clemson, Chauncey Wiggins’ primary skill is his ability to cash in from deep.
Wiggins has been an excellent outside shooter for all four of his college seasons, finishing his career as a 37.5% shooter, most recently connecting on 39% of his triples (5.8 attempts per game) in his lone season with the Seminoles. This past season was also his best on 2-point attempts, finishing 62% on 2s and 81% at the rim. As a pick-and-pop threat, Florida State wisely used that to their advantage, utilizing him as a roller more often to open things up. With a career-high 13 points per game, he was second on the team in scoring.
For his size, Wiggins never really proved to be much of a rebounding threat (2.5 rebounds over his career) or a shot-blocker (27 blocked shots in 129 games), making him a true shooting specialist.
Alondes Williams
Alondes Williams might be one of the more recognizable additions to the roster.
At 27 years old, he’s played 13 NBA games between stops with the Pistons, Wizards, Heat and Nets, he was the G League’s Most Improved Player in 2024, and at Wake Forest, he was the ACC Player of the Year in 2022.
He’s had three two-way contracts over his career and has mostly found himself in that zone of “too good for the G, but not quite there for the NBA,” but with the Wizards last year, he got three games of 27 or more minutes, highlighted by a 25-point outing against the Pacers where he shot 9-of-11 from the field with 10 boards, 4 assists and 2 blocks.
He does a little bit of everything. Defensively he shows really strong instincts and the ability to time his slap-downs as shooters get into their motion. On his drives he can really spring up and rock the rim. There’s playmaking chops, rebounding effort, consistent outside shooting. Alondes Williams can really hoop.
In 25 games with the Capital City Go-Go, he scored 23 points on 47/42/78 splits to go with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. At that level, he can simply take over games. It should be no different in the Summer League.
Amari Williams
Another young buck we know pretty well by this point, Williams wasn’t crushing it in his first Summer League, but I certainly expect it this time around.
His passing vision has been on display in every level of the game he’s played in, including spot opportunities with Boston. He recorded multiple triple-doubles in the G League last year, and was one of their biggest highlights on that roster.
He’s back on a two-way contract for a second season, and with the Celtics now locked into a three-big lineup of Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, and Luka Garza, it seems like Williams will again spend the majority of his time in Maine, though it’s clear from what we’ve seen in his NBA minutes he is capable of holding his own against increased competition.
