Brad Stevens sings praises of one of his most underrated Boston Celtics signings
Brad Stevens sung the praises of one of his most underrated Boston Celtics offseason signings, Neemias Queta, while speaking to Inside The Celtics' Eric Jay Santos; claiming that it's "obviously noted" how Queta has done thus far in his first few months with the franchise.
“He’s a hard worker," Stevens said of Queta. "He’s been a really good player for us. We anticipated and communicated to him when we got him that he was going to be in Boston a whole heck of a lot more than Maine because we were going to have Al sitting on back-to-backs because Kristaps was going to sit a little bit here and there. We didn’t anticipate Luke getting hurt in warm-ups a couple of weeks ago, but now that he’s back here, we feel a little bit more secure there. He’s done a good job and it’s been obviously noted.”
Stevens went on to complement the entire frontcourt; one largely rebuilt in the offseason after Robert Williams III's departure via the Jrue Holiday trade.
“No, they haven’t [surprised me],” Stevens said of the frontcourt. “They’re good players. And when you’re surrounded by good players, especially our guards and wings that we have, the job’s a little easier. You get to the rim, they’re either gonna throw it up to you or they’re gonna throw it out to the other guy for a wide-open three because your guy is on you. They’ve done a good job of fulfilling their roles.”
Neemias Queta likely to be retained by Boston Celtics
There's a possibility Queta sees his two-way contract converted soon by the team, with the possibility having grown exponentially based on Stevens' tone speaking of the former Sacramento Kings fan-favorite.
Should Queta be signed to a guaranteed deal, it could happen within the next month or so. Stevens has until January 10 to decide if he wants to keep Lamar Stevens, Dalano Banton, Luke Kornet, and/or Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. Of that group, Mykhailiuk is the likeliest to be cut.
Boston could guarantee all of their deals and flip all of them for a rotation piece in a two, three, or even four-for-one deal. Then Queta would be a shoo-in for an extension.