Former Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, who was traded to Atlanta earlier this summer, has high praise for one of his ex-teammates in Boston. In a EuroBasket group play encounter this week, Porzingis led his native Latvia to a 78-62 blowout victory over Neemias Queta‘s home country of Portugal.
Porzingis scored 21 points, grabbed nine boards, dished out three dimes, and blocked one shot. Queta, however, held his own against his former teammate, registering 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and a block. As Edvinas Jablonskis of BasketNews relays, Porzingis lauded Queta for his recent growth.
“Nimi has been getting better each year,” Porzingis said. “And Coach [Joe] Mazzulla has been pretty tough on him. And I believe he’s getting to a point where he deserves some real minutes, some real rotation minutes.”
Queta will likely compete with new signings Chris Boucher and Luka Garza and fellow holdover Xavier Tillman for minutes at the five spot.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- With training camp fast approaching for the new-look Celtics, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston polled a panel of colleagues about their top questions and concerns ahead of the team’s 2025/26 season. Boston will be without injured All-Star forward Jayson Tatum and former starters Porzingis and Jrue Holiday — both of whom were traded away to save money. Third-string center Luke Kornet left in free agency, while sixth man big Al Horford is still unsigned. Questions about Celtics president Brad Stevens‘ team building, Joe Mazzulla‘s ability to coach up a non-championship roster, and more popped up.
- The Knicks are hiring former L.A. Clippers director of international pro scouting Ermal Kuqo to serve as their senior director of minor league operations, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
- In case you missed it, Sixers guard Jared McCain has indicated that he expects to be available when Philadelphia’s training camp opens up later this month.
Hoopshype has the top 10 rotation guys on Boston being:
Queta-Boucher-Brown-White-Pritchard
Garza-Walsh-Scheierman-Hauser-Simons
That’s not a top 6 team, imo. They can always make moves but this is a meh team right now. Magic, Hawks, Cavs, Knicks, Bucks, Pistons all clear them. Celtics as they stand today are on that play-in tier with the Raptors, Heat, Pacers and 76ers.
link to hoopshype.com
No its a top 4 team in the weak east.
They have plenty of scoring with Brown, White (both all star level), Pritchard, Hauser and Simons. Only question is how good will their D be and if Queta can keep the boards respectable.
Remember they went to the ECFs with IT4 and Jae Crowder.
Stop hating Celtics.
Knicks, Cavs and Magic are better.
Pacers are without Haliburton
Who the eff knows what the Hawks are
Detroit might be better, but I doubt it
Philly is all about injuries and Embiid, without him they are lottery again
Nets..No
Bull…No
Wizards…No
Bucks are a complete ????
Heat…No
Raptors..No
IF Atlanta is good, which I doubt, then maybe we are talking about a top 5 team.
Sorry, People are crazy, White and Brown are still All star level players and the Celtics will score over 100 every game with their shooters.
If the Celtics do everything right while everyone has solid health they could end up in the 4-5 spot, but they could just as easily slide out of the playoffs.
They’re not a threat this year for anything except stealing Giannis from GSWs dream.
@TunaNoCrust Good call, they could get Giannis if Tatum/Brown/White are in the deal. Boston does have the firepower to enter the Giannis fray.
@CF sorry, wrong. Unless big trades happen and one of these teams decides to rebuild, it’s
Magic, Hawks, Cavs, Knicks, Bucks, Pistons > Celtics
You are objectively wrong if you think replacing Tatum with Boucher is a top 4 team. Also the East isn’t THAT weak this year. They have a strong 11 teams who can potentially make the playoffs right now, that’s more than there’s been in years. Why do you think Kristaps+Trae is going to be bad? That duo tops Brown+White and everyone but Boston homers agree.
Stop being a homer. Analyze your team while not being a fan at the same time, separate those things, like I do with the Warriors when I go off on how bad a coach Kerr is.
Magic are going to be such a difficult out with that savage heavyweight defense they play and Bane scoring.
I think Boston will be a playoff team and certainly above .500, but not because “East is weak anyone can get 42 wins there”, but because they have a good squad. They have quality players who will see their roles increased.
The question is their 5. It’s very difficult to be a good basketball team without quality play at center. I’ve always thought that Queta is a proper NBA player, but idk if starting and playing big minutes isn’t too big an ask for him. The guy only has 1300 total minutes of NBA basketball. That’s like half of what Carrington played in DC in his rookie season.
Sixers without Embiid still a good playoff team. They are deep. And have a few young players who are still growing as players. Drummond is capable of starting and playing 30 mins. Sixers had an excellent draft and McCain is back.
If Celtics want to be a playoff team. They have to keep Simons. Imo he is a good mate to White. He will get plenty of good looks. He can be a 20 pt scorer.
The Magic and Pistons are deep both will be formidable this year. Sixers get Embiid back. They are a contender. I don’t see East as weaker. Just changing of the guard is all. Heat and Raptors with right trade. Can both be playoff teams. Hawks will be better. They are also a young team getting better. Overall the East has more young talent spread out. Where the West has two talented young teams. West is deeper with (vet) teams.
The sixers are a play in team if they hold it together. Embiid and PGknee will play less than half the games again.
Forgot Bucks ……. my apologies. Too early !!!!
Bucks are a playoff team. Should be top 5.
Everyone runs with narrative that Sixers are hurt. You can’t be hurt every year. PG was sat down to tank. Tge only one who is questionable. Is Embiid. And he has sat for almost two years. So you should be expecting him to play. Drummond can handle 30 mins. He is good enough for Sixers to be a playoff team.
Maxey, Grimes, PG, Obrue, Gordon, McCain, VJ, Broome, Drummond, Milicic, Embiid.
Don’t sleep on Sixers.
If everything goes right for the sixers they’re extremely dangerous. Unfortunately Embiid has shown us what he is now. He will play less and less as his degenerative conditions get worse.
Sixers only know the “process” of tanking.
Cavs —- are team to beat
Knicks — are deeper and more committed. They are a true contender.
Sixers — without Embiid are still a top 4 team imo. Don’t count them out.
Pistons — are better and deeper. They need another big imo. Still a top 4 team. Their young players still getting better. Talented and deep this year.
Magic — got that consistent offensive player. Bane helps everyone. Magic can be that tough D team. They are top 4 team easy. Magic also have a few young players that can step up.
Bucks — lost Dame but got Turner. If they sign Brogdon they can be a top 4 team.
Pacers — have plenty depth. If their two centers step up. They are still a solid playoff team.
Hawks — have some good young talent. They are a playoff team and moving up.
Celtics — keep Simons they are a playoff team …..
Heat — are capable of making a trade and leveling up.
Raptors — are capable of making a trade and leveling up.
Bulls — ?????? I have no clue what they are doing.
Wizards — still too young, still figuring it out.
Nets — are a G-league team ……
Hornets — are a G-league team …….
Boston should tank. Come back with a lottery pick. A serious injury to Brown or White would be disastrous. Going to be a very uncomfortable introductory press conference if Simons is still a Celtic come start of season. Would of already happened if Boston valued and wanted to keep the man.