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.