The Philadelphia 76ers own the No. 22 slot in the 2026 NBA draft, a pick they obtained from Oklahoma City via Houston in the Jared McCain deadline trade. Six prospects are scheduled for workouts on Tuesday night, and one of those names is Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr. John Hollinger ranks Cenac No. 25 on his top-75 draft big board, placing him squarely in the conversation for a late-first-round selection.

Cenac averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Cougars in the 2025-26 season. He shot 33.3 percent from three on limited attempts and 62.1 percent from the free-throw line. Over the course of the season he recorded just 33 turnovers, indicating solid ball security for a big. Defensively, he logged 18 blocked shots in 37 games and possesses a 7-5-inch wingspan that gives him true center length while still allowing him to stretch the floor.

For Philadelphia, the primary need is a backup who can keep the floor spaced when Joel Embiid rests. Cenac’s ability to step out to the three-point line forces defenses to collapse, opening driving lanes for the guards and complementing the Sixers’ pick-and-roll heavy offense. His length and mobility also enable him to guard multiple positions, though his shot-blocking numbers suggest he would not replace Embiid as the primary rim protector.

The prospect fits a broader pattern of the Sixers using draft capital to add versatile front-court pieces. The bench has struggled with consistency, and injuries to the starting big have highlighted the necessity for a reliable second-unit presence. Rival Eastern Conference teams have begun loading up on stretch bigs, narrowing the window for Philadelphia to secure a player with Cenac’s blend of size, mobility, and floor-spacing ability.

Tuesday night will be the final evaluation window before the draft. If the Sixers select Cenac, he would join a roster that values spacing and mobility, giving him time to develop behind Embiid and the current backup. The decision will shape the bench composition for the upcoming season and could influence how the Sixers manage Embiid’s workload as they pursue another championship.