{"id":118174,"date":"2025-08-29T10:56:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T10:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/118174\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T10:56:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T10:56:08","slug":"celtics-mailbag-anfernee-simons-future-neemias-queta-outlook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/118174\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics Mailbag: Anfernee Simons future, Neemias Queta outlook"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Celtics<\/a> are getting a glimpse of their future in the next two weeks with Neemias Queta<\/a> seeing some big opportunities in EuroBasket<\/a>. The role of the big man is one of several intriguing questions still left unanswered for next season as training camp approaches. Let\u2019s talk about the big man and some other roster options and questions in this week\u2019s mailbag.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a pipe dream but waiving Walsh and giving Malik Beasley the taxpayer MLE would be a dream addition to the bench depth. \u2014 Quinn<\/p>\n

It would certainly be a potential boost to the bench, but that\u2019s not the direction the Celtics seem to be going in this season. Outside of Chris Boucher, the Celtics have leaned young with all of their signings (Garza, Minott). At this point, I\u2019d be stunned if the Celtics use the taxpayer mid-level exception at all this season with their cuts to salary so far. The team will be looking to get under the tax outright during this season if the opportunity presents itself so throwing on a mid-level deal now doesn\u2019t look like it\u2019s in the cards. Beasley will be looking for a one-year deal to rebuild his value regardless and that\u2019s not going to help Boston much when Tatum returns in 2026. Moving on from Walsh can\u2019t be ruled out depending on how his preseason goes but don\u2019t think it will be for a guy like Beasley. <\/p>\n

What do you think ultimately happens with Simons? Do you think he will extend with us for a lower number over 3-4 years if he shows good value in the season? \u2014 Jovian M <\/p>\n

It feels like a long shot he\u2019s here beyond this year just based on the team\u2019s money situation and roster outlook. Boston has $145 million committed to three guys next year so they really need to make every last dollar count as they try to fill out a championship roster. <\/p>\n

With a capable backcourt already in place (Derrick White\/Payton Pritchard\/Jaylen Brown), it\u2019s hard to see Simons getting real money to stick around, even if he\u2019s willing to take a significant pay cut. The equation changes if a big salary (Brown) is moved after next season but the strong likelihood in my mind is that Simons gets dealt at some point before or during this season. He may get a chance to win over some people in the organization if he starts the year here, but the long term realities of the cap make it difficult to see a long-term future for him in Boston. Even if he balls out here, he\u2019s likely to just be more in demand at the trade deadline or look for a bigger deal elsewhere. <\/p>\n

I feel like losing JD Davison might hurt a bit, he could be a guy in Houston. He dominated on the red claws. \u2014 Bill Walton\u2019s Burner <\/p>\n

It\u2019s nice to see Davison find a landing spot but he\u2019s got a long road to go before contributing in Houston. That\u2019s as deep of a roster as there is in the NBA (although a little thin at point guard) and is very much built to win now after acquiring Kevin Durant from the Suns. Davison will get plenty of reps in the G-League again but he looks like emergency depth at this point. This is the final year he\u2019s eligible for a two-way deal so this could be a make or break season for him in terms of proving himself as an NBA player. <\/p>\n

Queta\u2019s EuroBasket run is definitely sparking some fun Celtics conversations. I\u2019m curious to see how it impacts his role and if the front office sees him as a potential rotation piece. \u2014 Rose S <\/p>\n

The Celtics have done a fine job of plucking some diamonds in the rough at the big spots in the past decade and Queta looks like another guy on that list. He\u2019s had his moments during the last two years after the Kings surprisingly dumped him to sign an over-the-hill JaVale McGee back in 2023. After a couple of years in the system, opportunity is now knocking for Queta who gets a chance to test himself against elite competition in EuroBasket before trying to earn the starting job in camp with the Celtics. <\/p>\n

Given his age and experience, it makes sense to consider Queta the frontrunner for the starting job in camp and at the very least, a big rotation piece. A strong performance throughout the next two weeks overseas will give Joe Mazzulla plenty to be excited about with the big man, who has gotten plenty of tough love from the coach over the last two seasons. Ultimately, if Queta can hold up defensively (reducing fouling, making smart decisions within the scheme), the team is going to need him for his athleticism, rim running, and offensive rebounding. Many people look at Boston\u2019s frontcourt as one of the worst in the league, but a breakout from Queta could quickly change that outlook. <\/p>\n

Brian,<\/p>\n

Now that the Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca ownership era is officially over, what do you think are the most important parts of their legacy? <\/p>\n

For me, the foremost thing is that they saved the Celtics from the ruin of the Paul Gaston era. Gaston was such an embarrassment that I honestly stopped following the team. Grousbeck and Pagliuca brought the Celtics back to being one of the NBA\u2019s top-run franchises. For that, every Celtics fan and truly every NBA fan should be grateful.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, looking at the numbers, from 2002 to 2025, the team had 1,069 wins and 791 losses (0.574), not including the playoffs. By my count, the Celtics won the Atlantic Division 11 times in 23 years (48%). They made the playoffs (no great accomplishment at this point) 19 times (82.6%), played in the Eastern Conference Finals 9 times (39%), played in the Finals four times (17%), and won two NBA titles.<\/p>\n

To me, there\u2019s a *slight* blemish at the end for announcing the sale of the team so shortly after winning the title. Fans should have been given more time to celebrate. Still, what a run! \u2014 Sean<\/p>\n

Making the East Finals nine times in that stretch is pretty wild. Pretty impressive run by the duo and I think it\u2019s defined by them putting the right people in place right away. They hired Danny Ainge within months of taking over and that led to the painful but right move of deconstructing a playoff team so a true contender could be put together around Paul Pierce. Ainge and most recently, Brad Stevens have pulled the right strings (particularly with the big names) lately to give this ownership group two titles along with a couple more that were within reach. Getting those guys in place and having that kind of continuity isn\u2019t something to be taken for granted in pro sports and the Grousbeck\/Pagliuca ownership ensured this franchise had that. <\/p>\n

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