Anonymous NBA Scout Says Celtics Need This To Be 'Considered Serious Contenders'

Anonymous NBA Scout Says Celtics Need This To Be 'Considered Serious Contenders' originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . When the Boston Celtics lost Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet last offseason, NBA fans and media members pointed to the team's lack of size in their arguments about why the team would struggle during the 2025-26 season.

Portuguese big man Neemias Queta stepped up as the Celtics' starting center and had a career year, establishing himself as a Most Improved Player of the Year candidate, but fizzled out in the playoffs. Midseason trade acquisition Nikola Vucevic struggled even more in the playoffs and was benched in the team's Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first-round. Now, some NBA scouts believe Boston again needs to address the center position in order to be a real threat next season.

"Can Queta get you through 82 (regular-season games)? Yes, but can he patchwork it through the playoffs? " an anonymous Western Conference scout said, per ESPN .

"I think he keeps getting better, but there's a ceiling. They have to get a higher-level center if they want to be considered serious contenders. " Queta finished the regular season with 10.