The Celtics will have more nights this regular season where they‘re without their top two big men on the roster. They knew that coming into this year. Al Horford is 38 and hasn‘t played in both games of back-to-backs in a few seasons. Kristaps Porzingis is rehabbing his foot after offseason surgery, and he’s not expected back for weeks still.
That‘s why the C’s re-signed all three of their depth big men this season in Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman. As seen in the Hornets win Friday, C‘s coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff can mix lineups based off matchups. Queta, especially, is looking like the Celtics’ next developmental success story.
“If they‘re on the floor, I believe in them,” Mazzulla told reporters in Charlotte. “Really, since I‘ve been here, it‘s been a strength of our roster. We just have guys we believe in. They work really hard. The player development team works with them. Whoever’s available, I feel like we have a chance to win.”
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Queta excelled in the Pacers loss Wednesday, subbing in for the fourth quarter then playing deep into overtime. He was put in as an energy spark — that’s exactly what he brought as Mazzulla rode the hot hand down the stretch of the game. It was no surprise to see Queta as the first big off the bench as Kornet got the start Friday.
So, it was a big opportunity for Queta — and the big man delivered. His play near the rim, especially, is a strength compared to his teammates. In 24 minutes, Queta finished with 12 points and six rebounds (four offensive) on 6-for-6 shooting. Queta brought exactly what the Celtics needed, which is why he also got crunch-time minutes again Friday in what was a close game until a frantic, ejection-filled ending.
Remember, Queta, 25, was originally brought into the Celtics organization in 2023 on a two-way deal. He came from the Kings, where they raved about the big man. Queta showed flashes last year when the big man depth was thin. The Celtics elected to promote him to the active roster ahead of the playoffs, which allowed him to become the first Portuguese player to play in the playoffs then win an NBA title.
When it came to free agency this summer, Queta told MassLive he didn‘t contact other teams as he wanted to return to the Celtics. He got his guaranteed deal as he‘s found his spot in the league. Queta got plenty of time in the G League last season, but it looks like he’ll fit in just fine with the parent club throughout the year.
Of course, it‘s still six games into the season, but the early Queta returns have impressed thus far. The C‘s have done a solid job finding rotation-level players on the margins, which is a huge part of why they have so much depth. Both Payton Pritchard (late 2020 first-round pick) and Sam Hauser (2021 undrafted free agent) are some of those success stories. While Queta started off in the Kings organization, his development with the C’s is also part of his story. So now, the Celtics will hope he can continue making those strides.
