All the buzz is around rumored moves; what the Celtics haven’t done (Giannis trade) and what they might do (Jaylen Brown trade), but they actually made a few meaningful moves on Monday afternoon. Just ahead of the 5 PM deadline, Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reported that Boston picked up its team options on Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, and Dalano Banton.
The first two moves are extremely notable as they’ll keep two breakout young players, Queta and Walsh, on the roster next season for just $2.7 million and $2.4 million. Those are massively valuable deals for two players who proved to be critical to the rotation, with Neemy emerging as a rock-solid starting center and Walsh proving to be a defensive maestro.
Celtics can still extend Queta and Walsh during season
These moves will greatly help the Celtics accomplish potential financial goals like staying under the luxury tax for a second straight season, which would allow them to reset the dreaded repeater tax, or at least help keep them under the first apron, buying them valuable flexibility.
While this means that Queta and Walsh are technically now on expiring contracts, Keith Smith of Spotrac points out that Boston can negotiate new deals for both players during the season that start in 2027-28 when the Celtics should have no reason not to start digging into the checkbook again.
All around, this is great business for the Celtics, who are guaranteed at least one more season of two good young players on scam contracts, while they can hopefully re-sign them on longer, team-friendly deals that will give them significant raises to be part of the team’s future.
Celtics pick up option for Banton, decline Williams and Shulga
Picking up Banton’s option was more of a formality as it’s completely non-guaranteed, and Boston declined options on 2025 second-round picks, Amari Williams and Max Shulga, but can still bring them back, possibly on two-way deals (Williams has already been re-signed).
Brad Stevens still has a lot of work to do this summer and a lot of difficult decisions ahead of him, but he made two easy ones on Monday that should prove to be very important going forward.Â
These might not be the big, sexy, needle-moving deals that Celtics fans were waiting for, but they should be thrilled about these contracts and that the Celtics are keeping two young hidden gems that they’ve developed into positive role players.
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