Celtics capitalized on massive Kings mistake, and it's clearer than ever

When you get waived as a former second-round pick, it's unclear where your career's headed. Rather than Neemias Queta letting emotions get the best of him or allowing his mind to run rampant, he took a more pragmatic approach.

"As soon as I got cut, I just tried to pack and stuff and tried to get ready," Queta shared after his latest opportunity to remind the Sacramento Kings what they missed out on after waiving the former 39th overall pick two years into his NBA tenure.

Packing occupied his time and his mind. Not only did that help him turn the page quickly, but by the time Queta was almost done, the Boston Celtics had already called to offer him his next opportunity.

"It changed everything," voiced Queta after Boston's 112-93 victory vs. his former team. "I think that day, I was working out, out there, and later on, they told me they were gonna move on from me, [and go] in a different direction. It's tough. You go through it; you try to figure out what's your next step, and I'm really happy Boston stepped up, and I'm glad I'm here."

One team's regret is another's fortune

In his first year with the Celtics, the seven-foot center from Lisbon, Portugal, became an NBA champion. He also nearly helped lead their G League affiliate in Maine to its first title.

From there, his development continued on an upward trajectory. That's no surprise, given his high basketball IQ. It took until this season, the fifth of his career, for the 26-year-old to reach 2,000 NBA minutes. However, he has proven to be a quick learner.

Queta also demonstrated his talents that are easier to appreciate in Friday's win against the Kings.

The Celtics opened the game by delivering their visitors from Northern California a painful reminder about what they missed out on.

It started with a handoff and a screen for Derrick White that turned into an alley-oop. After throwing down a two-handed flush, a smiling Queta raised the roof, nodded his head up and down, and repeatedly uttered one word that sent a crystal clear message: "Yeah!"

That set the tone.

On their following possession, a simple screen-and-roll with Payton Pritchard ended with another alley-oop. This time, he kissed the ball off the backboard.

He later showed off his feel from the dunker spot and his ability to make himself available around the basket. There was also an impressive assist, where he demonstrated his body control and comfort receiving the ball when rolling to the basket.

After a dribble-handoff with Pritchard, tossing him the ball before screening for him, the latter delivered a pocket pass that Queta gathered in stride. The seven-footer smoothly collected the rock before putting it on the deck. He didn't panic when his first read, Sam Hauser, wasn't available. Instead, with Nique Clifford darting towards Hauser in the corner, the Celtics' center sprayed the ball out to Baylor Scheierman, who buried an open three.

Some of that was a testament to the footwork and body control that are a credit to his soccer background. The other half of the equation is a product of his growth within Boston's elite player development infrastructure.

The impact Queta can have with his size and athleticism at the other end of the floor, something that wasn't lost on the Kings, even when they waived him, was also on display.

Shortly after stepping up to halt Maxime Raynaud's drive, Clifford had a runway to the rim. However, the ninth pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft rotated across, perfectly timed his jump, and denied his dunk attempt.

Continuing to rub salt in the wound, Queta perfectly played a pick-and-roll between Dennis Schroder and Raynaud, knocking away Schroder's pocket pass. He also demonstrated great feel when he intercepted a pass to Clifford on a backdoor cut by the rookie.

It was a performance, in a season full of them, that had to have fans in Sacramento and some, perhaps many, within the organization saying to themselves in disbelief, "I can't believe we let him go."

That mistake still serves as motivation for him.

"Definitely," said Queta post-game when asked about using that decision as fuel. "Honestly, I feel like [it was] one of those things I can't control, you know? Like, of course, I'm not gonna be happy about it, and [I] just try to use it as extra motivation to go out there and keep on being the best version of myself, whether it was the version in Sacramento, the version here. I just want to keep on getting better, and that only adds to the fuel."

He finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, including four at the offensive end, three steals, and a block. That's despite only logging 2:09 in the final frame.

"He's a great player," voiced Mazzulla about his starting center after the win. "I'd say, on both ends of the floor. Defensively, his ability to protect the rim, our ability to cross-match when he's out there. Offensively, his screening versus different coverages, his offensive rebounding; I mean, he's just grown and developed into a very important player for us, and you can see a difference when we have him."

The Kings' perspective on Neemias Queta's growth

Doug Christie, now the head coach in Sacramento, was an assistant during Queta's tenure there. He joined the organization the same summer they drafted the latter.

The two bonded over more than basketball, with Christie becoming a mentor to Queta.

"One of my favorites, to be honest with you," he said after the Kings' loss at TD Garden. "Worked with him a little bit and talked with him more than anything, more of a mentorship. And you know, we would be sitting in an area where -- hot tub, cold tub -- and just talking about life, about basketball, about how he can improve, the things that he can do to impact the basketball, and to watch him have the success that he's had has been really exciting to watch it -- super proud of him.

"I know that he wants to be really good, and his approach to the game has always been great when he was around me. I can't speak for what he's been here, but [he's a] great young man, and super excited for him."

Christie, who "saw a lot of talent in Neemi" when the two were together, isn't surprised in the slightest to see him thriving as Boston's starting center.

"Not at all," he voiced matter-of-factly. "No, it doesn't. He's got the work ethic. Unfortunately, obviously, we didn't keep him, but knowing that the length, the rim protection, the athleticism, the effort, the teamwork -- he's just a good young player and a good kid."

Keon Ellis, who joined the Kings' organization a year after Queta and grew his game alongside the latter's in the G League, echoed that sentiment.

"Everything that I'm seeing now," he responded when asked post-game about his perspective on Queta's growth. "We had a really good team when we played together, you know, B Jack [Bobby Jackson, the Stockton Kings' head coach at the time] was also -- he was with us for that run. But, I mean, just a really great player. You know what he does, protecting the rim, a lob threat, great screen setter and roller. So, yeah, just everything he's doing now, it was the same thing back then. So, just glad to see he's doing it at the NBA level."

Life in the league makes it hard to stay in touch -- outside of reconnecting when they play each other. However, when they were in the same uniform, Ellis quickly realized what was to come for them.

"We both knew going in, like, I think it was actually our first preseason game together in LA, and we both knew, like, we were going to kill in the G League. So, yeah, just, it was a lot of fun playing with him," recalled the fourth-year guard.

Ellis also praised his former teammates' journey. It's an ascent that took him from being waived to a two-way deal, mostly spending time in the G League, to now making the impact he is as Boston's starting center.

"That he just stayed with it," said Ellis of Queta's persistence. "He was kind of doing the same things in his opportunities here. So, I mean, he got another opportunity here [in Boston], and, you know, he kind of just, you know, took it step by step, day by day. And I mean, he's won a ring here. And I mean, his role has increased. So, he's doing great things for the team."

That team was supposed to be the Kings. Fortunately for the Celtics, one franchise's regret has grown into a starting center blossoming in Boston.