Celtics' first order of business this offseason has become abundantly clear

The Celtics’ roster has undergone quite a transformation in the last year. Not even 10 months ago, the team was going to battle in a playoff series with a frontcourt rotation of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. All three departed in the summer, and the team was left without any clear replacements at the center position.

Everyone assumed that Brad Stevens would address the position, and that the team clearly needed to reinvest in the position before they’d be ready to compete again, but they didn’t overreact. They signed Luka Garza and Chris Boucher to minimum contracts, they drafted Amari Williams, and they still had Xavier Tillman Sr. and Neemias Queta at the end of the bench.

It didn’t look like much. And it certainly didn’t look like a center rotation on a championship contender, let alone any NBA team. But that’s why Celtics fans have learned to trust Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla and their respective staffs inherently.

Instead of (likely) overpaying to bring in a big-name center, they opted for multiple lottery tickets, and they’ve hit the jackpot. Boucher and Tillman were duds who have already been salary dumped. Williams has shown some promise but still needs a lot of development. Garza has proven he’s a capable backup in the league.

Queta is the real prize

Neemy has been a legitimate weapon for the Celtics since day one and has proven that he’s an above-average center in the league and can be a defensive anchor. They need to take advantage of this find and lock him up long-term this summer, ensuring that he is here to stay as the center of the future.

They added him on a two-way deal back in 2023, then signed him to a standard contract the next year. He has continued developing, from Maine up to Boston, and the team has continued to show belief in him and give him opportunities. Neemy has done nothing but seize that opportunity, and now, he’s in a position to get rightfully paid.

Queta has brought it on both ends, and his net rating is among the highest in the entire NBA. When he’s on the court, the Celtics are an elite team, and he’s a huge part of the reason why. He’s honed his skills and really grown into his body and athleticism. He’s putting it all together, and the results have been incredible.

Celtics should lock Queta up long-term

He has a partially guaranteed team option for next season for $2.67 million, so maybe the Celtics just pick up the full guarantee and choose to push this down the road another year. But one way or another, Brad Stevens and company need to make sure that Queta is here to stay in Boston for a long time.

Coming into the season, it was all about finding a center, and it's not like they should stop looking to improve, but they've found their guy. Garza is a suitable option as a reserve, Williams can keep growing, and they've added Nikola Vucevic as a nice change of pace off the bench.

They can keep improving on the margins, and maybe they bring back Vooch on a cheaper deal for his offense, but they've got the 7th best defense in the NBA and the 2nd best offense this season, and they've done it with Neemy starting almost every game and playing 25 minutes a night; a formula that clearly works.