Neemias Queta is already making the case that Boston should keep the center spot in his hands.
The Celtics big man has been excellent for Portugal in two 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, putting up 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 65% from the field in 27.3 minutes. The opposition hasn’t been Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, or Joel Embiid, but Queta has still looked controlled and overpowering against real NBA-level size, including Willy Hernangomez, Aday Mara, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
That kind of showing fits the player Boston saw last season, when Queta handled the starting job well and gave the Celtics reasons to trust him again. He was the team’s starting center last year, and even with Mitchell Robinson signed in free agency, there’s a strong argument that shouldn’t change.
Robinson does bring something different. He could help Boston avoid late-game foul trouble and limit the kind of Hack-a-Mitch situations opponents can create, and right now he’s the better answer against elite bigs.
But Robinson is at his best in short stretches, in part because his physical style makes it hard for him to stay out of foul trouble across a full game. He was also just a backup center on a championship team.
Boston, meanwhile, has already shown plenty of belief in Queta. The Celtics took a chance on him in 2023, elevated him to starting center despite limited experience in a bigger role, avoided making a major move at the position this offseason, and then signed him to a new deal. That kind of investment usually points to a team that wants to keep building with a player, not around him.
Queta still has plenty to prove if he’s going to be a dependable starting big on a contender, but the tools are obvious. Last season, in his first year as a starter, he averaged 10.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.3 BPG while shooting 65.3% from the field. He brings real value on the glass, finishes efficiently, passes better than most centers his size, and has a post game Boston should keep trying to unlock.
The Celtics’ center group already took a major hit last summer with the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford. That opened the door for Queta once, and he made the most of it. Boston should give him the same chance again.
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Derrick White Suddenly Feels Less Safe In Bostons Core
Derrick White has long looked like one of the safer pieces in Bostons core, the kind of player who fits almost anywhere because of his defense, decision-making and steady all-around game. Sports Illustrateds John Karalis recently underscored that point while also noting the tension around the Celtics cap situation, where even dependable contributors can become complicated fast when the financial picture tightens.
Whites recent shooting has added another layer to the conversation, since a swing in performance can change how a team views a player whose value is built on balance rather than volume scoring. None of that means Boston is preparing to move him, but it does make his roster security feel a little less automatic than it once did, especially with the Celtics already navigating a squeezed financial outlook. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Trade Return Rides On One Complicated Pick Twist
The Celtics return for Jaylen Brown is straightforward on the surface: Paul George, two first-rounders and two second-round picks from Philadelphia. But buried in the package is the kind of draft-night accounting that can shape a franchise years down the line, including an unprotected 2031 pick from the 76ers and a protected 2028 first from the Clippers that comes wrapped in swap rights and layered protections involving Boston and San Antonio.
For the Celtics, the second-round pieces add a little more value to the haul, too. They come in 2028 and 2030 and are structured as the most favorable of several teams selections, which is the sort of detail that can look minor now and matter later when front offices are hunting for flexibility. The headline of the deal is the star-for-star swap, but the real long-term intrigue sits in how those picks eventually shake out. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Got A New Eastern Conference Threat To Worry About
The Eastern Conference picture may be about to get a lot more complicated for Boston. With the NBA punishing the Clippers over the Kawhi Leonard trade, the path has opened for Leonard to return to the Toronto Raptors, and ESPNs Shams Charania reports the deal is expected to be finalized in the next few days. For a Celtics team already measuring itself against the conferences best, the timing matters.
Toronto with Leonard back in the fold is a very different problem than Toronto without him. Even with the obvious questions about his health and durability, his arrival would be viewed as a major upgrade and would put another proven playoff force back in Bostons lane. The Celtics do not need more contenders making the road harder, but this one has the kind of star power that can change the balance in the East quickly. [Read more 🡒]