The Boston Celtics are heading into a season full of uncertainty. This comes as a result of an offseason where the storied franchise had to part ways with several of its key players from their title run just over a season ago. Superstars like Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford have all been let go by the Cs after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury changed their championship window. Now, with minimal expectation for the new season, the front office will be keeping a close eye on which players can help the team upon JT’s return.

Amid this, one big man who looked like a rather low-key addition has arguably emerged as a long-term option in the front court. It’s none other than Neemias Queta, who played a starring role for Portugal at EuroBasket 2025. The 26-year-old  center was signed by Joe Mazzulla and Co. on a two-way deal two years ago. Since then, he has not received regular minutes, but earned a three-year contract back in July 2024, worth $7.18 million.

Now however, with the Celtics seriously strapped at the Center position, Queta may finally get his chance. Celtics Insider Bobby Manning also thinks the same. “There is a lane here, especially with Grant Williams gone now is that pseudo extra big. For him to maybe steal a few minutes here, there, on an off night, at least get an opportunity to try to do so on a winning team. I love this guy. I really did enjoy watching him in Vegas. I think he has a little bit of potential with that face-up game, can block shots, and then drop, though. He played up to the touch a lot. He’s slower. It doesn’t move well on the perimeter,” he said.

“But luckily, the Celtics, in his case, are playing a system that’s going to drop the big more often than not, and having him close to the room defensively at seven feet makes a lot of sense.” Manning pointed out that while Queta might not be the fastest player on the court, he sure knows how to block shots and drop. To put it simply, the Insider suggested that while Queta might not be the best at spacing and shooting, like Kristaps Porzingis, the seven-foot, 250-pound big man knows how to play traditionally.

Well, that’s actually great for the Celtics, as next season Joe Mazzulla most likely isn’t going to go with his old tactics, given there has been a major overhaul this summer. So, they could tailor their game a bit to the 26-year-old’s needs. After all, he is coming off a solid FIBA EuroBasket campaign for Portugal, which saw him average 15.5 points per game along with 8 rebounds. Moreover, he also provides much-needed physicality at the rim.

Not to mention that last season, Joe Mazzulla already challenged him with defensive assignments. So, it’s safe to say that Celtics head coach already views the seven-footer as an asset for his team, not just for the upcoming season, but also past that. Nonetheless, while Neemias Queta’s future in Massachusetts looks brighter than ever, on the other hand, the same cannot be said for his teammate and Boston’s superstar, Jaylen Brown.

Jaylen Brown’s future up in smoke?

While Neemias Queta’s future in Boston looks all but locked in, the Celtics’ superstar Jaylen Brown continues to be at the center of trade rumors. Throughout the summer, the four-time NBA All-Star has been linked with a move away from the team that drafted him back in 2016. While a lot of this has had to do with Jayson Tatum’s untimely Achilles injury, which has completely derailed Boston’s trajectory for the next couple of years, this time that wasn’t the case.

On the contrary, recently, Brown himself attested to the possibility of his departure from the Boston Celtics. The Georgia native, who was back where he grew up, while making an appearance on a local radio show, suggested that he might be open to a move to the Atlanta Hawks. When the host asked the former NBA Champion, “Is there any chance we might see you in the hometown uniform?” Jaylen Brown’s reply was short but spoke volumes. “You never know,” Brown suggested.

Even though the 28-year-old forward did not exactly reveal his thoughts about a move to Atlanta, he also did not rule out the possibility of it becoming a reality. The Hawks already have acquired their former teammate and another Celtics star, Kristaps Porzingis, and are also reportedly looking to ship out their star guard, Trae Young.

There could be a possibility of them making a move for Brown. But until they don’t, it’s safe to assume that he would love to continue to suit up for the Cs, as they gear up for a crucial year.