8:42pm: While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, a source tells Brian Robb of MassLive that Queta received a multiyear contract. Since the Celtics don’t have their mid-level exception available, the deal can’t cover more than two seasons.
7:16pm: The Celtics have promoted center Neemias Queta from a two-way deal to a standard contract, the team announced in a press release.
Converting Queta makes him eligible for the postseason, and the move also completes Boston’s 15-man standard roster.
The NBA’s first player from Portugal, the Lisbon native was the 39th overall pick of the 2021 draft after playing three years of college ball at Utah State. He spent his first two seasons on two-way deals with Sacramento, but he was released in September and signed with the Celtics a few days later.
Queta, 24, has been a standout at the G League level over the past three seasons, including helping lead the Maine Celtics to their first ever appearance in the NBAGL Finals. Maine will face the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s affiliate, in a best-of-three series that begins on Tuesday.
In 26 games with Boston in 2023/24, Queta has averaged 4.6 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 61.4% from the field in 11.4 minutes per contest.
He deserved it
I’ll never understand how the kings just let this dude go.
Lol then you weren’t watching Kings basketball.
Wow congrats. Was a great dude in sac. Too bad the kings couldn’t hold onto him. Could use the rim protection
Perfect example of someone who looks at stats on paper and the former team and tries to make 1+1 = 3. Nobody who enjoys watching Sacramento basketball misses Queta. “Rim protection” is not even a top 3 concern for this Kings team as is.
After giving up 22 offensive rebounds and getting just 5 ourselves, in our win against Portland, maybe that was the incentive needed to give Neemias Queta this long awaited contract. Neemias doesn’t shoot threes but neither does Luke anymore. Go Celtics!
I’m sure it’s non guaranteed. The incentive was to have some control over Queta next year.