One hour into free agency, the Boston Celtics locked in their second signing of the offseason. The NBA champs officially resigned Neemias Queta on a multi-year deal -- he'll make $2, 162, 606 in 2024-25 and $2,349, 578 in 2025-26 --, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Queta became the first Portuguese champion in NBA history as a depth piece for Boston’s Banner 18 squad. The 24-year-old big man flashed some serious promise during the 2023-24 regular season, averaging 5.5 points and 0.8 blocks on 64.4% shooting in just 11.9 minutes per game.
Per 36 minutes, Queta averaged 16.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. While backup centers Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman saw larger roles in the postseason, Queta arguably has more potential than both of them.
Queta only appeared in 28 contests for the Celtics last season, spending a lot of time with Boston’s G League affiliate in Maine. The talented seven-footer lit the G League on fire with his size and athleticism, catching lobs and protecting the rim for a Maine team that made its first-ever G League Finals.
20 PTS ☘️ 13 REB ☘️ 3 BLK
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) April 10, 2024
WHAT A DAY FOR NEEMIAS QUETA! After signing a deal with @celtics he dominated for the @maineceltics tonight with his third straight double-double in game one of the #NBAGLeagueFinals! 👏🙌 pic.twitter.com/R1r91Wcm6v
In the G League regular season, Queta averaged 13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks across 11 contests. He only played 20.8 minutes a night with per-36 averages of 23.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks. Queta truly displayed some monstrous per-minute production last season.
In Maine’s run to the G League Finals, Queta poured in averages of 13.2 points, 13.6 boards, and 2.0 blocks through five outings. After starting the season on a two-way deal, Portugal’s greatest hooper earned a standard contract with his outstanding play for both Boston and Maine.
Boston Celtics players and coaches gave Neemias Queta high praise last season
About a month before the playoffs began, head coach Joe Mazzulla talked about Queta’s underrated role as an impact player for the Celtics.
"Everybody forgets that there was a whole stretch during the season where he (Queta) was playing significant minutes and he won games for us … He did a great job stepping at that stretch of the season and picking up exactly where we left off. He brings it every day and has his level of patience, and understands that his time is going to come. But we can’t have people forget what he did for us earlier in the year."Joe Mazzulla
Joe Mazzulla on Neemias Queta:
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) March 19, 2024
"There was a whole stretch during the season where he was playing significant minutes and he won games for us."
"He brings it every day and has his level of patience, and understands that his time is going to come."
(Via @CelticsCLNS) pic.twitter.com/A9Esri1YDp
Queta’s teammates also showed him high praise throughout the season. Jayson Tatum gave Queta a huge shoutout after a Nov. 26 win in which the big man grabbed six offensive rebounds in 15 minutes of action.
"He was big for us tonight, just the energy that he brought off the bench … It’s tough not knowing when your number’s gonna get called. Tonight, he helped us win the game."Jayson Tatum
"I give a lot of credit to those guys... The stay ready group"
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) November 27, 2023
Jayson Tatum talks about the impact Neemias Queta and the rest of the bench bring to the team pic.twitter.com/lZvNiq225J
After signing Kornet at the very start of free agency, the Celtics made another great call by trusting Queta and his untapped potential. Both Queta and Kornet will provide Boston with invaluable center depth while Kristaps Porzingis misses the start of next season.