Neemias Queta delivered the best season of his professional career in 2025-26, emerging as a reliable anchor for the Boston Celtics after significant frontcourt turnover. Averaging 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting an elite 65.3% from the field, the Portuguese big man earned serious Most Improved Player consideration. When Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford departed last offseason, Queta stepped into a much larger role and helped the Celtics exceed expectations.
Yet the playoff exit has crystallized what many around the organization already understood: Queta is a valuable piece, but not the long-term starting center for a championship-caliber Celtics team.
Queta’s breakout campaign was genuinely impressive. A fan favorite since Boston signed him in 2023, he rewarded the organization’s patience by improving across nearly every statistical category. His mobility stands out for a 7-footer, and he has shown flashes as an underrated passer and playmaker for his size. In the post, he possesses solid footwork and moves that, with continued refinement, could become highly effective.
Still, limitations remain evident. Queta averaged 4.1 fouls per game across seven playoff appearances, often looking a step slow or overeager against elite competition. He remains a non-shooter in a system built around floor spacing under Joe Mazzulla, and he has struggled when matched up against bigger, more skilled centers. At nearly 27 years old, his ceiling appears relatively defined—strong contributor, but not a franchise cornerstone.
In hypothetical Game 7 scenarios against Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama, or Chet Holmgren, the Celtics would need more from the center position than Queta has shown he can consistently provide at this stage.
A clear path forward for Queta and Boston
Fortunately, the situation does not require Boston to move on from Queta entirely. He has a $2.7 million team option for next season, and reports indicate the Celtics plan to exercise it. Picking up that option is the right decision. Queta earned it with his reliability and growth, and he still fits as a high-energy backup who can spell the starter, provide rim protection, and maintain the team’s physicality off the bench.
The ideal outcome for both parties is clear: Queta transitions into a primary backup and spot-starting role. In that capacity, his strengths can be maximized without exposing his weaknesses in high-leverage playoff minutes against the NBA’s best frontcourts.
That role becomes far more sustainable if the Celtics successfully upgrade the starting center position this offseason. Myles Turner would represent an excellent target as a proven stretch big who complements Boston’s spacing and defensive versatility, even if he is past his absolute peak. More ambitious scenarios, such as pursuing Evan Mobley should the Cleveland Cavaliers face an earlier-than-expected exit, remain long shots but illustrate the type of talent Boston should be monitoring.
The Celtics front office has shown a willingness to be aggressive in building around their core. Adding a higher-upside or more polished center would not only elevate the team’s title odds but also put Queta in the best possible position to succeed long-term in green.
Queta’s journey from fringe roster player to meaningful rotation piece is already a success story. By securing his team option and targeting a clear upgrade at the position, Boston can ensure his next chapter is one of continued contribution rather than unrealistic expectation. The Portuguese big has earned his place in the organization. Now the Celtics must build a frontcourt around him that gives them the best chance to compete at the highest level once again.