Fresh off a slew of offseason roster turnover this summer, the Boston Celtics find themselves in a much different spot in the frontcourt than they were a year ago.
Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens ensured that rather than being backed into a corner again, the team would have options.
When asked about the three-man center rotation of Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson and Luka Garza, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had one word for what he’s most thrilled about.
“The versatility,”
Mazzulla told reporters Monday at the Auerbach Center on media day.
Robinson arrived via free agency after Boston signed the 28-year-old to a three-year, $47.39 million contract shortly after his NBA title capture with the Knicks. That added a secondary starting option, with qualifications, to Mazzulla’s group, giving the Celtics flexibility to get creative this upcoming season.
Mazzulla acknowledged that while the Celtics can’t run all three each night in Boston’s lineup, each is deserving of being rewarded for their leaps last season.
“Obviously Mitch’s resume speaks for itself,” Mazzulla said. “If you take a look at Neemi and Luka, they both are significantly better players than they were at the beginning of last season. Credit to them and their work ethic. I think with guys that you have coming back, you want them to take the next step. They both had great offseasons. They both deserve to be given more responsibility within the framework of our team. But we have three different kinds.”
Queta entered training camp as the man under the spotlight. Boston had just parted ways with Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet, leaving the roster’s frontcourt thin. And with only six prior starts through three seasons, Queta quickly adjusted to his promotion and became a vital fixture — averaging career-highs in points (10.2), rebounds (8.4), and blocks (1.3) across 76 appearances.
Garza, too, carved out a role for himself behind Queta, knocking down a career-best 55 threes while sweating like a marathon runner fighting for second chances on the offensive glass.
Meanwhile, in New York, Robinson logged 16 starts in 60 appearances, finishing eighth for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year vote.
Being the newcomer, Robinson isn’t concerned about competing for a starting role.
“For me, it doesn’t matter,” Robinson told reporters. “I’ve started before. I came off the bench. I’ve been up and down. That don’t really bother me too much, so whatever happens, it is what it is. I’m gonna still continue to play hard and do what I do best. That’s just one of those things, like, we’ll see what happens.”
From watching Jayson Tatum and Paul George forge their bond to making amends with Mazzulla over his Hack-a-Mitch tactics, Robinson spoke highly of his early Boston experience.
“I feel like they’re gonna get the best out of me,” Robinson added.
So far, Robinson and Queta are on the same page as the Celtics begin training camp. They recognize their similarities and differences, but also understand how their contrasting skill sets can strengthen Boston’s frontcourt.
Robinson has competed against the Celtics 22 times over the last eight years, and the organization is thrilled to bring that to an end.
“Mitch is a great guy to be around,” Queta told reporters. “He’s gonna make us a lot better. I’m excited to have him as a teammate way more than having him as an opponent. And he’s going to give us a different look, being able to rebound at a really high level, defend one through five. He’s a great guy to be around too, and he’s gonna help us get to the next level.”
Boston also has second-year product Amari Williams and incoming rookie Chris Cenac Jr., both in the early stages of their development.
Queta looks forward to watching them get their opportunities as well, working alongside the veterans in an environment similar to the one the Celtics cultivated last season. He’s even got a name for Boston’s new big-man group: “Big Fella University.”
“Just made that up. Big Man University,” Queta chuckled. “Those guys should be pretty reliable, and night in and night out, whoever gets called upon, I got 100 percent confidence that we’ll deliver.”
