The Boston Celtics have reportedly signed Neemias Queta to a four-year, $56 million contract extension after picking up his $2.7 million team option, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. This is the team's first move after their reported Jaylen Brown trade.
Even though he struggled a bit in the playoffs (averaged 4.1 fouls in six games and greatly struggled defensively, especially after the Philadelphia 76ers got Joel Embiid back), Queta is fresh off a career year and proved he should be a mainstay on Boston's roster for years to come.
In his first season as a full-time starter, the Portuguese native averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 65.3% from the field in 76 games.
With the Celtics stealing Mitchell Robinson away from the New York Knicks in free agency, it remains to be seen whether Queta is going to be the team's starting center once again. But in either case, he proved that he can be a legitimate contributor for years to come, and this extension is further proof of that.
Neemias Queta has proven his worth in Boston
The Celtics signed Queta after he was waived by the Sacramento Kings in favor of JaVale McGee in 2023 (the Kings made a bad roster move? Shocker), and it's only paid dividends for him and the team since.
Queta had always been solid, showing flashes of potential in his limited opportunities throughout his first two seasons with the Celtics. He proved to be a tenacious rebounder, very athletic, and he had some of the same defensive tools (explosiveness, rim protection, mobility) that made Robert Williams III a fan favorite with the team (just with a lot less discipline/more fouls, and he was/is much slower).
It was easy to see the vision with the Utah State alum, but he was never going to leapfrog Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, or even Luke Kornet on the depth chart. But he finally got his opportunity last season after they all departed over the summer, and he made the most of it.
Queta's emergence was huge, too, because he was really Boston's only hope center at that point. If he didn't rise to the occasion and step up, the Celtics didn't really have a backup option (Luka Garza wasn't going to cut it, and we already know how the Nikola Vucevic trade worked out for them).
He did everything the team needed him to and then some last season. His days as Boston's starting center might be over, but either way, it's clear that the team values him. And rightfully so.
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