May 16, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla coaches against the New York Knicks during the first quarter of game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Keeping Tabs on Potential Rising Star This Summer

Originally posted on Boston Celtics on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 5:00 PM ET

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is keeping tabs on a potential rising star for his team during the NBA offseason.

The Celtics have undergone significant roster churn this summer. Following the Achilles tendon rupture of six-time All-Star power forward Jayson Tatum, the team's best player, during the playoffs, Boston general manager Brad Stevens opted to tear down key cogs in the Celtics' championship core rather than have new majority owner Bill Chisholm foot what would have been the priciest payroll bill in NBA history.

Stevens has overseen the exit of two centers this summer. He traded away starting center Kristaps Porzingis and let third-string big man Luke Kornet sign a free agent contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Al Horford appears poised to depart as well. Stevens signed free agent centers Chris Boucher — who could conceivably also replace Tatum as the club's fill-in starting power forward — and Luka Garza.

But fourth-string center Neemias Queta also has an opportunity to step into the starting center role this fall.

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Per Cesare Milanti of Eurohoops, Mazzulla has been keeping tabs on the EuroBasket output of Queta this summer. The 7-footer just wrapped up some terrific play for his native Portugal.

"I spoke with him a couple of times, he is always sending me messages of appreciation, or love, or me getting better," Queta aid. "What he sees in me, what I need to improve on, and that’s a great relationship that we have.”

A Basketball Evolution

“It was a good opportunity for me to evolve my game and get ready for the next season,” Queta added.

Queta was suiting up in his first major FIBA competition, which he even acknowledged was a bit of a surprise.

“Life comes at you in mysterious ways,” Queta said. “I want more, I always want to evolve.”

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In some even better news for Mazzulla, Queta seems to be fully recuperated from an offseason knee surgery.

“I got rested enough this offseason and I think that I put myself in the best position to have a breakout season," Queta opined. "I have the tools to compete with the best.”

Ultimately, Portugal's run came to an end in the round of 16, when former Celtics point guard Dennis Schröder's German team took them down.