Would our Chicago Bulls really go double-big with first-round rookie picks and snag one-and-done Houston Cougars center Chris Cenac Jr. at No. 15 in the 2026 NBA Draft?
While it seems likely that Chicago will draft whichever player among Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson (AJ Dybantsa will be gone) falls to the team at No. 4, multiple recent mock drafts have projected a wide variety of prospects to the Bulls with their second first-round draft selection, just outside the lottery.
Peterson’s insane scoring upside means he’ll most likely be snatched up by the Utah Jazz at No. 2 or the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3, leaving one of the draft’s top two bigs, Boozer and Wilson, still available for Chicago.
2026 NBA Draft Prospect
Chris Cenac Jr.
Player Bio Stats CombineForward / Center
Houston (2025-26)
Big 12
Freshman
Accolades
2025-26 NABC All-Gulf District 2nd Team
2025-269.5
7.9
0.7
0.8
0.5
48.5%
33.3%
6′ 10.25″ barefoot
239.6 lbs
7′ 5″
9′ 0.5″
The Bulls have a surplus of guards and forwards anyway. They could use a center, although the 19-year-old Cenac might not be ready for primetime for a few seasons.
Cenac has the upside to become a real starting-caliber five. The team that drafts him will need some patience. He’s big and fast, but hasn’t quite become the shot-blocking behemoth he should be just yet.
Ultimately, you can’t teach size (which is what we told ourselves when drafted Aaron Gray). Cenac measured out at last month’s NBA Draft Combine with a 6-foot-10.25 height sans shoes, a 7-foot-5 wingspan, and a 9-foot-0.5 standing reach. His enticing athleticism could make for a potential Lob City II scenario in the Chi.
What The Experts Are Saying About Cameron Carr
Sam Vecenie (The Athletic):
“Cenac has been an exceptionally difficult prospect to find a home for, as well. The consensus seems to be that he’s going to go somewhere in the top 20, but the feedback I get from teams is that he’s more like a late first-rounder. He’s seen as a high-upside swing for teams that can afford to be patient and wait for him to improve his feel for the game.”
Kevin O’Connor (Yahoo Sports):
“Cenac checks every box on paper as a superb athlete who moves like a wing, has the length to alter shots, and shoots from the perimeter. Houston handed him a starting role with national title aspirations and trusted him with heavy minutes. But the Cougars fell short again, in part because Cenac struggled to stay out of foul trouble, couldn’t score efficiently, and was overeager to play on the perimeter despite having the body of a bruiser. He arrived in college with lottery expectations, and he still could become that player in the future. But the NBA team drafting him is taking a project.”
Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report):
“Despite flaws in Chris Cenac’s statistical profile, there will be teams willing to bet on a 19-year-old with his 6’10” (barefoot) size, 7’5″ wingspan, 240-pound frame, shooting confidence and motor.
“He’ll be a popular reach candidate for teams looking to fill gaps and aren’t concerned with finding high-upside scorers.”
Jeremy Woo (ESPN):
“Cenac measured well at the combine and stood out physically in on-court drills, with good dimensions and mobility for a center that make him a worthwhile developmental bet. He made strides with his toughness and rebounding at Houston but remains a ways from contributing to a winning NBA team. Still, his sheer size and fluid movement skills give him a chance to carve out an eventual NBA role if he can find more of an offensive identity. There’s probably more rim-protection upside than his alarming lack of blocks might suggest, as he was asked to play conservatively and focus on rebounding as part of Houston’s approach.”
Houston Cougars big man Chris Cenac Jr. © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesWould Chris Cenac Get Any Run with the Chicago Bulls?
With or without impending free agents Nick Richardson and Guerschon Yabusele rostered, Chicago is already kind of loaded with big men.
At least Cenac is a legitimate center, unlike tweener bigs like Leonard Miller and, hopefully, Wilson. The Bulls are already saddled with lots of talented forwards, including talented lottery picks Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue.
Cenac is pretty raw. But on a young, developing Bulls roster, he’s still liable to get some rotation minutes, no matter how much of a project he is to kick off his NBA career.
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