Celtics Sign Queta
Celtics Sign Neemias Queta to Major Four-Year Extension, Securing Starting Center Role
Key Points
The Celtics reportedly traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for forward Paul George and multiple draft picks, signaling a major roster reshape as Boston moves to support Neemias Queta and its frontcourt plans.
There is a notable discrepancy in reported extension value for Queta: ESPN’s Shams Charania reported a four-year, $56 million deal, while other outlets floated a four-year package as large as $76 million.
Queta delivered a breakout season across 76 appearances, averaging 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 65.3% from the field (third-best in the league), and he maintained a starting role and trust from coach Joe Mazzulla even after midseason roster changes.
The Portuguese center’s journey from a two-way contract to a core piece for Boston underscores a long-term plan: Queta was a 39th overall pick by the Kings in 2021, spent years in and out of two-way deals, and earned a championship ring with Boston before solidifying himself as a starting center amid a broader roster overhaul.
The Boston Celtics have locked up center Neemias Queta on a four-year extension worth $56 million, according to ESPN and multiple outlets. The deal kicks in starting in the 2027-28 season and cements Queta as a long-term cornerstone in Boston's frontcourt.
The extension comes during a busy offseason for the Celtics. The team traded star wing Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers and added veteran center Mitchell Robinson, per NBA.com. Boston is clearly reshaping its roster while betting on Queta as a building block.
Queta's Breakout Season Earned This Payday
Queta delivered the best season of his career in 2024-25. He averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 76 games. He shot 65.3% from the field — third-best in the entire NBA, per CBS Sports.
Coach Joe Mazzulla kept Queta in the starting lineup even after midseason roster changes. The seven-footer gave Boston reliable, efficient scoring and rim protection night after night. Those numbers made the extension an easy call.
Reported Deal Value Differs Across Outlets
Not every outlet agreed on the price tag. ESPN's Shams Charania reported a four-year, $56 million extension. But The Score floated a larger figure — a four-year package worth up to $76 million. The gap is significant: roughly $20 million separates the two estimates.
SI.com and Boston 25 News both reported the $56 million figure. The extension is structured to start in 2027-28, after the Celtics first exercised their team option on Queta for 2026-27, per RotoWire.
From Two-Way Deal to Long-Term Starter
Queta's road to this contract was not easy. The Sacramento Kings drafted the Portuguese center 39th overall in 2021. He spent years on two-way contracts — short deals that sit below a full NBA roster spot. He earned a championship ring with Boston before ever landing a guaranteed long-term deal.
Now he is the anchor of Boston's frontcourt. The Celtics added Mitchell Robinson on a three-year mid-level deal, per SI.com, but Queta is expected to keep the starting role. His rise from fringe player to franchise center is one of the quieter success stories in recent NBA history.
Brown Trade Signals a New Era in Boston
The Queta extension is just one piece of a much bigger rebuild. Boston sent Jaylen Brown — a cornerstone of its 2024 title run — to Philadelphia in exchange for forward Paul George and multiple draft picks, per NBA.com. It is a bold swing that changes the team's identity overnight.
The Celtics are also pursuing veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. The extension terms for Queta are structured to keep Boston's payroll below the first apron — a key salary threshold that limits roster-building options. Boston wants to stay competitive now while keeping future flexibility intact.
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