The Boston Celtics may have dished out huge contract extensions to Jayson Tatum and Derrick White this summer, but Brad Stevens flashed the nuanced greatness that won him Executive of the Year with a trio of quieter moves.
In the first week of free agency, Stevens re-signed three backup big men from the Banner 18 roster: Xavier Tillman, Luke Kornet, and Neemias Queta. These may seem like minor moves for the Celtics, but the return of their frontcourt depth could prove invaluable in a quest for back-to-back championships.
With Kristaps Porzingis likely out until December or later, all three of Boston’s bench bigs will have ample opportunities to play extended minutes. Al Horford, who turned 38 in June, will also need his rest next season. The veteran missed 17 games last year, and he will almost certainly continue to rest games during Boston’s back-to-back sets.
On certain nights, head coach Joe Mazzulla will have to insert one of his reserves into the starting lineup. Thankfully, his options will all have championship experience and an additional offseason of improved chemistry with Boston’s star-studded roster.
The Celtics can build different lineups with their backup bigs next season
What makes the Tillman/Kornet/Queta trio so special is the different skill sets each player brings to the table. Throughout the regular season, Mazzulla will have the freedom to try out different lineups using any combination of the backups.
Given that they all have minimum salaries, none of the Celtics bench bigs will expect a certain amount of playing time. On a night-to-night basis, Mazzulla can experiment with matchup-based rotations using the specific strengths and abilities of each center.
Tillman will often take on the Al Horford role, providing the Celtics with elite switchable defense and floor-spacing. Tillman doesn’t shoot the ball as well as Horford, but he has a solid jumper. He displayed his range on the biggest stage in basketball when he hit a huge three-pointer in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
When Horford is healthy and starting, Celtics fans should expect to see Tillman subbing in for Big Al more often than not. Tillman and Horford look like clones on the courts due to their eerily similar movements, builds, and playstyles. New Celtics fans may need to focus extra hard on their jersey numbers to avoid confusion.
In matchups with the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid, the Celtics could lean on Horford’s past success defending these physical superstars by filling all 48 minutes with either Big Al or his basketball doppelganger.
Tillman also defended Luka Doncic brilliantly in the Finals, mirroring Horford’s defensive versatility and his ability to switch onto guards. That being said, Mazzulla might prefer a bigger body in other matchups.
While Tillman stands at 6-foot-8 like Horford, Kornet and Queta are legitimate seven-footers. In fact, Kornet is listed at 7-foot-2. Queta is two inches shorter than Kornet but has a 7-foot-4 wingspan. Both Kornet and Queta set phenomenal screens and get after it on the glass, but they mostly present different strengths on offense.
Last season, Kornet excelled as a dribble-hand-off hub in the second unit. He operated very well in the pick-and-roll, especially with Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard. Kornet typically makes quick decisions and does a good job with his paint touches, whether he passes to an open teammate or hits an open shot.
Kornet’s high basketball IQ earned him a lot of trust from Mazzulla. As a consistent contributor for the reigning NBA champions, the Green Kornet suited up for 63 contests last season and drew seven spot starts. As a starter, he averaged 11.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on 70.2% shooting.
On and off the court, Kornet is beloved by fans and teammates for his undeniable humor. Many Celtics players have called Kornet the funniest guy on the team.
Neemias Queta is Boston’s most athletic big man since Robert Williams III
While Tillman and Kornet are steady and reliable, Queta might be Boston’s biggest wild card. He tends to foul a lot (5.4 fouls per 36 minutes), and he doesn’t always make decisions as quickly or decisively as his counterparts.
However, this guy can jump out of the gym and hit the glass better than anyone else on the Celtics.
Queta had the longest wingspan in his draft class. He also had a top-five max vertical leap and standing vertical leap at his draft combine. His freakish athleticism equated to elite per-minute production last year. Per 36 minutes, the Portuguese big man averaged 16.6 points, 13.2 total rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and a whopping 5.7 offensive rebounds.
Queta has undeniable upside, and he gives the Celtics their most athletic paint presence since Robert Williams III. Boston’s bounciest big man could prove vital in many matchups next season, especially against teams that rebound at a high level.
In a recent press conference at Summer League, Queta seemed hungry for more opportunities in the upcoming campaign.
Queta also talked about his decision to return to Boston and how much love he felt from the fans last season.
“I felt a lot of love from the moment I stepped into the Auerbach Center,” Queta told Celtics reporter Noa Dalzell. “Even the fans, too. I felt so much love in this city. It was pretty much a no-brainer for me … It was really good for me to find a home, and I just want to keep on building it so I can keep on making everybody happy.”
Mazzulla will have to make some interesting lineup decisions throughout the 2024-25 season. Tillman’s versatility, Kornet’s consistency, and Queta’s explosiveness will all play a role during Boston’s next 82 games.
The return of the Tillman/Kornet/Queta trio will end up as a greater move than most people realize. There is more than meets the eye with the genius of Brad Stevens – even when his actions seem subdued.
