“Celtics Bolster Front Court with Neemias Queta and Luke Kornet Signings at Start of Free Agency”
The Celtics have strengthened their front court depth at the start of free agency on Sunday night. According to a league source confirmed by MassLive, Boston has signed Neemias Queta to a multi-year contract just an hour after re-signing Luke Kornet. Shams Charania of Stadium first reported Queta’s new deal.
On Saturday, the Celtics declined a team option for Queta, making him a restricted free agent on Sunday night. Despite declining the option, MassLive reported on Saturday that the Celtics had a strong interest in keeping Queta and have now secured him with a long-term deal.
Last season, Queta played in 28 games for Boston, achieving career-high averages of 5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 11.9 minutes per game. The Celtics initially signed Queta on a two-way deal in August after he was waived by Sacramento, and he provided valuable minutes off the bench when Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis were unavailable, earning a promotion to the 15-man roster in April.
With Kornet and Queta signed, the Celtics now have 13 players under contract. Kornet signed a one-year deal on Sunday night, while Queta’s multi-year deal is likely not fully guaranteed, according to a source. Here’s a closer look at the Celtics’ current roster after the start of free agency:
Celtics 2024-25 Projected Payroll:
– Jaylen Brown: $49.7 million
– Jayson Tatum: $34.9 million
– Jrue Holiday: $30 million
– Kristaps Porzingis: $29.2 million
– Derrick White: $19.6 million
– Al Horford: $9.5 million
– Payton Pritchard: $6.7 million
– Jaden Springer: $4 million
– Luke Kornet: $?? million
– Baylor Scheierman: $2.5 million
– Neemias Queta: $2.2 million
– Sam Hauser: $2.1 million
– Jordan Walsh: $1.9 million
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