The Boston Celtics acted swiftly to shore up their frontcourt when the NBA free agency period began Sunday evening.
Shortly after reportedly re-signing center Luke Kornet to a one-year contract, the C’s brought back reserve big man Neemias Queta to a multi-year deal, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Queta, who turns 25 on July 13, initially signed a two-way contract with the Celtics last September. The 7-footer played well enough during the 2023-24 season to earn a standard contract in April.
Queta, 24, is the first and only Portuguese player in the NBA.
Last season, he averaged 5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 11.9 minutes per game with the Celtics.
Boston had declined Queta’s $2.1 million team option ahead of the deadline on Saturday, aiming to sign him to a multi-year extension instead.
Queta joined the Celtics after a 20-game stint and two seasons with the Sacramento Kings.
Jonas Valanciunas has agreed on a 3-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 32-year-old Lithuanian native played the last 3 seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans.
He averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 23.5 minutes per game last season.
Valanciunas’s veteran presence will be a boost for the Wizards, who drafted Alex Sarr in the recent NBA Draft.
