The Boston Celtics enter the 2025-26 season with plenty of questions following painful roster changes this summer. But there’s one BIG question: Who will emerge as the go-to center in a largely overhauled big-man stable?
The trio of Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis accounted for 4,200 total minutes of regular-season action last season. Take 48 minutes and multiply it by 82 games and you don’t even hit 4,000 total minutes. That’s a lot of big-man minutes to replace.
For Day 8 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel to pick the Celtics big man most likely to eat up the majority of those center minutes this season.
Before the August addition of veteran big man Chris Boucher, the Celtics were incredibly green at the center spot. Neemias Queta (1,345 career minutes) and Luka Garza (973) might play more this season than the entirety of their NBA careers. Xavier Tillman has played sparingly since being acquired two seasons ago, but both he and offseason acquisition Josh Minott could be small-ball center options like Boucher, too.
Queta, already the lone rotation holdover, might have put himself in the driver’s seat for starter minutes with his strong play at EuroBasket. The 26-year-old big man has provided solid minutes over the past two seasons, most notably early in the 2024 title season where he made a case for his elevation to the parent roster.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla put Queta in some tough defensive spots last season, maybe with the goal of expediting his development. And now it might be time to take off the training wheels.
Queta is an imposing presence around the basket and looks far more comfortable on the defensive end compared to when he first arrived in Boston. Garza has obvious offensive talents, but has to show he can hold up on the defensive side to earn Mazzulla’s trust.
Boucher is an interesting addition. He’ll turn 33 during the season, and on a one-year minimum contract, he doesn’t exactly figure into the long-term future of this team. The Celtics would probably prefer to use minutes this season to develop players that might comprise core pieces of a future title contender. And yet Boucher’s veteran steadiness and ability to help nurture a younger stable makes him quite vital to however this year plays out.
The one thing we know for sure at the center spot: Boucher is going to play hard. Remember a couple seasons ago when he bumped Mazzulla during a timeout on the court? Robert Williams III’s bearhug of Mazzulla was the only thing that prevented any further escalation. But coach and player are kind of perfect for each other.
“Boucher bumps him. Watch this. Watch Coach Mazzulla, he’s going after Boucher. Gotta be held back by Rob Williams.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/hVuIvHNmLH
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) April 6, 2023
Still, the Celtics have to find the right balance between allowing Boucher to bring some veteran poise to that position and giving Queta, Garza, and the small-ball bigs a chance to develop. If Boucher leads the team in center minutes, it’s only a good sign if the Celtics dramatically outkick expectations and elect to lean on his experience.
The bigger question here might be whether the center of the future is currently on Boston’s roster. If you’re leery of this center depth chart, we get it. But also remember that few thought Luke Kornet would evolve into an eight-figure center when he arrived.
The Celtics have rarely splurged at the center spot outside of the Porzingis acquisition. Having Horford there with an ability to play in double-big lineups or shuffle him to center was an insane luxury that the team will dearly miss.
But now it’s on younger players like Queta to show they are ready to shoulder the minutes load.
Darren Hartwell, Managing Editor
Neemias Queta.
Am I overreacting to Queta racking up 23 points and 18 rebounds against lowly Czechia in EuroBasket action? Potentially. But the Portuguese big man has improved every year since arriving in Boston, and he has a golden opportunity to take another leap this season.
Chris Boucher might be the more polished player, but Queta has more upside. Let him work toward realizing it.
Michael Hurley, Web Producer
I know that Chris Boucher is the only option who’s actually played 20-plus minutes a night for full seasons in the NBA, but I bet it’s Neemias Queta.
He has two years of experience working with the Celtics. They’re invested in each other. He took some positive steps last season, so there’s reason to believe that can keep advancing.
Sean McGuire, Web Producer
Neemias Queta.
The lone holdover of the aforementioned group, Queta started just six of the 62 games he played last season because of the depth in front of him. But the 26-year-old fared fine in those six starts and narrowly missed a double-double in three of them.
If Queta can continue to build confidence from long range like he has in FIBA EuroBasket tournament this summer, Joe Mazzulla surely will appreciate it.
Josh Canu, Media Editor
Neemias Queta.
We have all enjoyed the flashes from Queta when called upon. Will he struggle in certain matchups? Absolutely. But he’s the best chance they have.
I think with a bigger workload he will have some eye-popping games and it should be fun to watch him continue to develop.
Jim Aberdale, Supervising Producer, Celtics
I’m guessing most will go Neemias Queta, but I’m taking Chris Boucher.
I like the fact he’s an eight-year veteran and has been on a couple championship teams. As the question mentions, someone has to play the 1,500 minutes and I think Joe Mazzulla leans on Boucher the most.
Max Lederman, Content Producer
Neemias Queta has the institutional knowledge that comes from already playing two seasons under Joe Mazzulla and is coming off a breakout EuroBasket performance for Portugal.
The center job is Neemy’s to lose.
Kevin Miller, VP, Content
Neemias Queta coming off a strong EuroBasket run will be the first choice. The Celtics could use his offensive rebounding and overall activity for some needed second-chance points.
That being said, I could see several minutes of small-ball five lineups.
Adam Hart, EP, Content Strategy
Chris Boucher emerges as a true threat alongside Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. People will be very excited for him to play with Jayson Tatum, Ray. People will most definitely be excited.
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