The Celtics have picked up staff choices for Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, and Dalano Banton forward of subsequent season, as first reported by The Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. Queta is because of make $2.7 million subsequent season, Walsh will make $2.4 million, and Banton $2.8 million.
Each Walsh and Banton’s choices are non-guaranteed (final 12 months, the Celtics picked up JD Davison’s non-guaranteed choice, however waived him later in the summertime earlier than he signed with the Houston Rockets).
The Celtics additionally declined staff choices for Max Shulga and Amari Williams, each of final 12 months’s second-round picks. Each gamers are eligible to return to the Celtics on two-way contracts, which they started the season on.
Neemias Queta stays a possible candidate for an extension
Neemias Queta might very nicely signal an extension with the Celtics within the coming days after establishing himself because the staff’s beginning middle final season.
Queta, who’s 26 years previous, has had an extended journey to get up to now; he was the thirty ninth total decide in 2021 however was waived by the Sacramento Kings two years later. He joined the Celtics on a two-way contract shortly after and commenced his tenure with the group in Maine.
Queta was fourth within the staff’s frontcourt depth chart throughout his first two seasons in Boston. However he grew to become the beginning middle after the Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis and noticed Al Horford and Luke Kornet stroll away in free company.
Final season, Queta averaged 10.2 factors, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per sport, taking pictures 65.3% from the sphere. He averaged 25.3 minutes throughout 76 video games, each career-highs.
However, taking part in postseason minutes for the primary time, Queta struggled within the playoffs. Attributable to foul hassle, he was restricted to simply 21.7 minutes per sport. He put collectively his finest efficiency in Recreation 7, tallying 17 factors (on 7-8 FG) and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes, all playoff profession highs.
What’s his market worth after a profession season? That continues to be to be seen.
Jordan Walsh can be eligible for an extension with the staff
Walsh can be coming off a profession 12 months; in his third season, he averaged 5.4 factors and 4 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per sport, taking pictures 50.9% from the sphere and 38.4% from three. Walsh began 25 video games, oftentimes matching up towards opposing groups’ finest gamers, and recorded career-highs throughout the board. Walsh, who’s 22 years previous, was drafted thirty eighth total in 2023.
The Celtics agreed to a 3-year, $9 million extension with Ron Harper Jr on Saturday. Harper Jr. averaged 3.2 factors in 11 minutes per sport final season, after starting the season on a coaching camp contract.
Jaylen Brown (July) and Payton Pritchard (October) are additionally each eligible for contract extensions within the coming months.
