Celtics make under-the-radar quality move to retain Neemias Queta

In the aftermath of one of the most scrutinized trades in NBA history, the Boston Celtics made another move. More under the radar but a quality signing nonetheless, Boston will re-up with veteran center Neemias Queta on a four-year, $56 million extension, per a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.  

With the NBA constantly growing, literally speaking, size always matters. Queta, a 7-footer out of Lisbon, Portugal, has proven to be an important "big" in Boston over the last three seasons. 

Neemias Queta plays an important role for the Celtics 

Queta, 26, took a noticeable jump in production in 2025-26, his fifth overall year in the NBA. He averaged 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds while playing in 76 games and making 75 starts, all signifiant career-highs. He even added 9.3 points and 8.6 rebounds in the playoffs, gaining valuable high leverage experience against Joel Embiid before Boston fell to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the first round. 

Neemias Queta enjoyed a spike in production in 2025-26 

His best prior season statistically was 2023-24 when he averaged 5.5 points and brought down 4.4 boards, but that was in just 28 games in more of a reserve role for the eventual NBA champions. He did see time in three playoff games. Queta registered exactly 5.0 points per game in his first full season of work in 2024-25. 

Celtics will keep relying on Neemias Queta to provide the size they need 

And while the Celtics' roster is still seemingly lesser than it was prior to the Jaylen Brown trade, it's also possible Queta can take his game to another level and provide a more dominating presence under the basket for teams to have to deal with. 

A second round pick of the Sacramento Kings in 2021, Queta has managed to develop into a solid NBA starter after working his way up from the G League — he was named to the All-NBA G League First Team in 2023. He's stuck around in Boston since signing a two-way contract following that G League honor, carrying an average of 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 186 total NBA games.