Brad Stevens Shares Long-Term View on Neemias Queta Filling Celtics' 15th Roster Spot

Earlier this month, the Boston Celtics decided to sign big man Neemias Queta to a standard NBA contract in order to make the 24-year-old eligible to compete in the upcoming 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Fast forward to Tuesday, and with the Celtics’ first playoff game just days away, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens gave Queta his flowers and praised his ability to contribute in spot minutes during the 2023-24 regular season.

“Just generally, first of all (Queta) has been great when he’s been with us,” Stevens said. “We’ve had moments this year when we’ve had only two bigs available and oftentimes with (Queta) he’s been able to some in and really fill a role and keep our team at a high, high level. The likelihood of anybody you sign at that 15th spot playing huge minutes in a playoff run is probably pretty low but he’s shown that he’s able to do that if surrounded by the right guys in the right role.

"That was one thing and then obviously with the contract that we signed, we think (Queta) is more than just a right now player. We think he’s a guy that can help us in the future. If you would have asked me going into the year with our four bigs, maybe we were a little bit unproven. By the middle of the year I was like ‘damn that’s a really good group.’ They can really play. They can play Al at the four, Kristaps at the four, with those guys or single without them. So they gave us a lot of flexibility this year and (Queta) was a big part of it.”

Queta appeared in 28 of Boston’s 82 regular-season contests and averaged 5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game on 64.4 percent shooting from the field.

In the Celtics’ final two games of the campaign — when the team had little to play for — Queta made the most of his additional playing time and touches. First, he totaled 16 points, 15 rebounds and five assists versus the Charlotte Hornets on April 12.

Two days later against the Washington Wizards, he accumulated 19 points, nine rebounds and six blocks while shooting 8-of-11 from the floor.

Queta will have his first opportunity to play in a playoff game for the Celtics on Sunday, when the team is set to kick off its first-round series at TD Garden.

Further Reading

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