According to Boston Globe reporter Adam Himmelsbach, the Boston Celtics will not exercise the team option on Portuguese interior player Neemias Queta's contract next season. However, this does not mean that Ketta will definitely leave Celtic, and the two sides will discuss the possibility of signing a long-term contract, and Ketah will also have the opportunity to return to Celtic next season.
In the NBA regular season this season, Keta played a total of 28 games for the team, averaging 11.9 minutes per game, averaging 5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, shooting 64.4% from the field and 71.4% from the free throw line. In the playoffs, Keta played a total of 3 games for the team, averaging 4.3 minutes per game, averaging 1.3 points, 1 rebound and 0.3 blocks per game, shooting 66.7% from the field. In the NBA Development League this season, Keta played a total of 16 games for the Celtics' team, the Maine Celtics, averaging 23 minutes per game, averaging 13.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.9 blocks per game, shooting 66% from the field and 68.2% from the free throw line.
Keta didn't get much playing time in the NBA, but he still showed excellent rebounding protection and super basket protection ability when he had limited playing time, and he was simply an insurmountable barrier on the inside. He has played his role to the extreme in the NBA Development League, his rebounding ability and basket protection ability have been fully reflected, and his basket efficiency is also quite reliable. If he had played a little more minutes, his stats would have been much better. Perhaps also because the overall performance is indeed quite bright, the Celtics also made a positive move for Ketta, who was previously on a two-way contract, before the end of the regular season this season, and gave him a two-year contract with a minimum salary.
Under normal circumstances, given that Ketta's salary next season will also be a base salary, and his performance in basket protection and rebounding protection is quite impressive, it makes sense that the Celtics should exercise his team option and "squeeze" him with a child labor contract for another year. Now that Celtics have chosen not to exercise this team option, it could mean that the Celtics have high hopes for Keta. The Celtics could offer Keta a similar 3-4 year base salary contract, which would also include a team option or some contract years will be non-fully guaranteed. Perhaps the Celtics did take a fancy to Ketta's talent, and they are also looking to mine a player like Sam Hauser who can still play an important role on a cheap contract.