The Boston Celtics’ frontcourt is looking completely different after a slew of offseason roster turnover, and it’s clear Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens was not about to get backed into a corner this year. Stevens went out and ensured his squad has options, big options, heading into the season. When asked about the three-man center rotation of Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, and Luka Garza, head coach Joe Mazzulla lit up with one word: “The versatility.”
Mazzulla’s excitement isn’t hard to understand. Robinson arrived in Boston via free agency, signing a sweet three-year, $47.39 million deal just after capturing an NBA title with the Knicks. That’s a huge boost, adding a secondary starting option to Mazzulla’s group and giving the Celtics some serious flexibility. They can get creative with this lineup, which is exactly what Stevens wanted. Mazzulla admits they can’t run all three big men every night, but each of them earned their spot and deserve the opportunity.
Take a look at Queta and Garza: Mazzulla said they’re “significantly better players” than they were at the start of last season. Credit to their work ethic, man. Queta really stepped up after Boston parted ways with Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. He went from just six starts in three seasons to becoming a vital fixture, averaging career-highs with 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 76 appearances. Luka Garza also carved out a role, knocking down a career-best 55 threes and getting after it on the offensive glass. For his part, Robinson, who logged 16 starts in 60 appearances and finished eighth in Sixth Man of the Year voting with the Knicks, isn’t sweating the competition for a starting spot. “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 the kind of attitude you want, right? As the season kicks off, this versatility means Boston has options for any matchup. They’ve got depth, talent, and a commitment to playing hard. Mazzulla and Stevens are clearly building something special, and it’ll be exciting to see how this dynamic frontcourt shapes up when the games start counting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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