Former Celtics standout shares candid assessment of his replacement

Kristaps Porzingis and Neemias Queta went head-to-head at EuroBasket recently. The former led Latvia to a 78-62 win. The host country has advanced from the Group Phase to the Round of 16.

After steering his team into the winner's circle, Porzingis, now the Boston Celtics' former starting center, offered his perspective on the individual in line to replace him in that role.

"Starter? Good question," responded Porzingis when asked about his outlook on Queta joining the Celtics' first unit, per Bobby Manning of CLNS Media. "Who else is there? Honestly, I haven't really thought about their roster.

"But what I can say is that Neemy has been getting better every year. Coach Mazzulla has been pretty tough on him, and I believe he's getting to a point where he deserves some real minutes, real rotation minutes. He's been putting in the work, and you can see it in how he's playing now in this tournament. I'm happy for Neemy. He's a great dude, really cool person. He puts in the time, he puts in the work, and I'll be glad to see him get a lot more minutes this year."

Queta's EuroBasket gauntlet, facing the likes of Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun, and Porzingis, is an ideal way for him to prepare for the opportunity to join Boston's starting five.

One of the most encouraging takeaways from watching him compete in this international tournament is seeing the shape he's in. The seven-foot center is active at both ends and running the floor in transition.

It is paramount that his conditioning and stamina allow him to hold up in a game and throughout the regular season. He won't capitalize on his upcoming opportunity without that being the case. What he has shown at EuroBasket is that he'll be ready.

The battle between Porzingis and Queta

Porzingis finished the matchup against his now former Celtics teammate with 21 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. The former two were game-highs.

After starting EuroBasket 0/13 from beyond the arc, the seven-foot-two center came out firing. Porzingis knocked down a trio of triples in the first frame.

He finished 5/12 [41.7 percent] from three-point range, including a pair of logo-made threes.

While Porzingis started hot, he also inflicted much of his damage with Queta on the bench due to foul trouble. That's a development to monitor with the latter this season. He must remain disciplined so he can stay on the floor.

However, Queta still put 16 points on the board. He made 7/11 shots inside the arc, showcasing a deft touch around the basket. He also paced Portugal with seven rebounds and registered a rejection.

Queta has run into challenges at EuroBasket. However, between his individual matchups and the impressive rosters Portugal has played, that was expected. Still, he has performed well overall, and this has been a great experience for the Celtics center. It's an encouraging performance as training camp inches closer.