Celtics decline Neemias Queta option, Reportedly To Pick Up Option On Key Rotation Piece
The sides reportedly are expected to work on extension talks next month
The negotiating period of NBA free agency begins Sunday night, but the Celtics reportedly plan to ensure a key rotation player doesn’t enter the open market.
According to The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, citing multiple sources, Boston plans to pick up Sam Hauser’s $2.1 million option before Saturday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline. Himmelsbach added the sides are expected to begin negotiations on an extension for the 26-year-old after the window for those discussions opens July 9.
Celtics president of basketball operations didn’t reveal details but made it clear extending Hauser was a priority; it’s also a priority to extend Derrick White, too, according to MassLive’s Brian Robb.
Hauser signed a two-way deal with the C’s in 2021 and became a key part of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation this season. He played an important role in helping the Celtics win the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. the three-year forward averaged 9.0 points on 42.4% 3-point shooting while playing 79 games on 22 minutes per game.
Boston will be tied up in cap restrictions — especially when negotiating Jayson Tatum’s expected supermax contract extension — but it will be focused on signing long-term deals with the rotation that helped it win Banner 18 so it can try to repeat next season.
Celtics decline Neemias Queta option, center becomes free agent
The Celtics are declining Neemias Queta team option for the 2024-25 season ahead of Saturday’s deadline but the door remains open for a potential return to Boston according to a league source.
Queta was a productive backup center for the Celtics on a two-way contract last season before being promoted to the 15-man roster ahead of the playoffs. Boston landed Queta initially last August when he was waived by Sacramento following a big man roster crunch. Queta provided valuable depth off the bench for Boston on nights when Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis weren’t in action. He appeared in 26 games with Boston, posting career-highs across the board averaging 5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 11.9 minutes per game over 28 appearances.
Boston will enter free agency with Queta as a free agent along with Oshae Brissett, Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Svi Mykhailiuk all hitting unrestricted free agency. Boston can use Bird Rights to re-sign Tillman and Kornet, meaning they can offer above the league minimum for those players. Boston can offer up to 120 percent of last year’s contract to Mykhailiuk, Queta and Brissett. Boston currently has four open spots on the 15-man roster. Here’s a look at the team’s current contract situation.
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
Baylor Scheierman: $2.5 million
Sam Hauser: $2.1 million
Jordan Walsh: $1.9 million
FREE AGENTS
Brissett, Kornet, Tillman, Mykhailiuk, Queta, Davison (two-way), Peterson (two-way)
TWO-WAYS
Watson
Total salary: $192.3 million to 12 players
Total guaranteed money: $190.1 million to 11 players
Expected salary cap for 2024-25: $141 million
Expected luxury tax line for 2024-25: $171 million
Expected second apron for 2024-25: $189 million
GUARDS: White, Holiday, Pritchard, Springer,
WINGS: Tatum, Brown, Hauser, Scheuermann
BIGS: Horford, Porzingis, Watson (2-way)
NBA free agency opens up on Sunday night at 6 p.m. ET
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