Getty Neemias Queta
The Boston Celtics have used their final roster spot on Neemias Queta.
On April 8, Celtics.com’s Taylor Snow reported via his X account that the Celtics have converted his two-way contract into a standard one.
The Boston Celtics have signed Neemias Queta to a standard contract, making him eligible to play the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.
Queta’s per-36 stats with Boston this season:
14.5 PTS (61.4 FG%)
13.0 REB (5.6 OREB)
1.8 BLK, 1.7 AST, 1.3 STL
“The Boston Celtics have signed Neemias Queta to a standard contract, making him eligible to play the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs,” Snow wrote.
After the Sacramento Kings released Queta to make room for JaVale McGee, the Celtics signed him to a two-way contract. Queta has appeared in 26 games for the Celtics, averaging 4.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game. He usually plays when the Celtics have a player or two down in their frontcourt. The last time he played was March 22.
With Queta now on the team, he is eligible to play in the postseason. He would not have been able to do that if the Celtics had not converted his deal. With him now on a standard contract, the Celtics have a full roster of 15 players on standard deals.
Queta will play behind Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Xavier Tillman, and Luke Kornet. The exact details of his contract have not been released yet.
Brad Stevens’ Thoughts on Keeping Neemias Queta
In an exclusive interview with Insider the Celtics’ Eric Jay Santos, Stevens gave his candid thoughts on Queta.
“He’s a hard worker. 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 told Santos in a January 5 story.
Stevens added that he wasn’t shocked in the slightest by how good Queta looked.
“No, they haven’t [surprised me],” Stevens said. “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.”
Queta’s efforts have evidently paid off. Even if it’s late in the season, the Celtics liked him enough to want him available in the playoffs.
Neemias Queta Has Enjoyed Time With Celtics
Queta expressed how happy things have gone for him since joining the Celtics.
“I am being treated very well. I’m very happy with the way things have developed,” Queta told O Jornal’s João Gonçalves in a February 20 story. “We have been playing very well, and the season has gone very well – individually and with the team. Now, it’s a matter of continuing to stay on this path so that we end the year in a happy fashion.”
He even singled out Celtics fans’ passion for the game and how much he’s enjoyed that.
“I’m feeling more and more at home. The fans are able to support us in an incredible way,” Queta said. “Boston has great fans, so every place I go, I feel a lot of love. I’m very happy with this kind of support.”