[Forsberg] An unexpected combo is filling Celtics’ frontcourt void
November 6, 2025
[Forsberg] An unexpected combo is filling Celtics’ frontcourt void
5 comments
From Chris Forsberg:
In the aftermath of the Celtics’ offseason roster overhaul, the question got asked ad nauseam: How would Boston rebuild its frontcourt after the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and Al Horford?
Now we know the answer: A whole lot of Neemias Queta and Josh Minott.
The Celtics are 4-2 since Minott elevated to a starting role alongside Queta, and even when the team has struggled to put together a complete 48 minutes, the numbers for the Queta-Minott combo have leaped off the page.
The Celtics have a +31.8 net rating in the 96 minutes that Minott and Queta have shared the floor this season. That includes eye-catching ratings on both the offensive (122.5) and defensive (90.7) ends of the floor. Of the 386 two-man lineups that have played at least 95 minutes this season, only the Miami frontcourt combo of Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. has a better net rating (+32.4) than the Minott/Queta duo.
Boston has launched the 26-year-old Queta and the 22-year-old Minott into roles far beyond what’s been asked of them to this point in their NBA careers.
With 180 minutes played already, Minott soon will surpass the career-high 276 minutes he logged last season in Minnesota, and likely before his 23rd birthday arrives on November 25. Queta went from fourth on the Boston big-man depth chart last season to the clear-cut No. 1 big after the summer changes.
And while neither player has been perfect, they’ve thrived when paired together.
Of the 14 five-man lineups with at least 60 minutes together this season, the Celtics’ combo of Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Minott, Queta, and Jaylen Brown are outscoring opponents by a league-best 24.3 points per 100 possessions. That’s 3.5 points better than the next closest five-man combo (Minott’s old friends in Minnesota are at +21.7). Third on that list is the Orlando team that Boston will joust with twice this weekend.
Josh “Josh Minott” Minott has been a great surprise
So is there a possibility that next season we have tatum back and have traded for another center in which case minott and queta are coming off the bench together?
Nobody jerks off the Celtics quite like Forsberg.
Going into this season I don’t think either of these guys had any trade value whatsoever, but with the default minutes and some solid counting stats, do you think they’ve both already increased their trade value into 2nd round pick territory or is it too early?
Will be interesting to see if throughout the season it gets to the point where some opponent looks at those stats and decides they each have trade value equal to a late 1st. They could be solid throw-ins if we look to put a package together for an upgrade. Minott in particular is a tricky one, because we arent’ going to be able to pay him more than the league average (13 mil per year) when he hits free agency in 2027, but if youre able to put a package together around Simons expiring + Hauser + minott as a sweetener, can it get you something now that can help you compete when tatum returns?
5 comments
From Chris Forsberg:
In the aftermath of the Celtics’ offseason roster overhaul, the question got asked ad nauseam: How would Boston rebuild its frontcourt after the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and Al Horford?
Now we know the answer: A whole lot of Neemias Queta and Josh Minott.
The Celtics are 4-2 since Minott elevated to a starting role alongside Queta, and even when the team has struggled to put together a complete 48 minutes, the numbers for the Queta-Minott combo have leaped off the page.
The Celtics have a +31.8 net rating in the 96 minutes that Minott and Queta have shared the floor this season. That includes eye-catching ratings on both the offensive (122.5) and defensive (90.7) ends of the floor. Of the 386 two-man lineups that have played at least 95 minutes this season, only the Miami frontcourt combo of Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. has a better net rating (+32.4) than the Minott/Queta duo.
Boston has launched the 26-year-old Queta and the 22-year-old Minott into roles far beyond what’s been asked of them to this point in their NBA careers.
With 180 minutes played already, Minott soon will surpass the career-high 276 minutes he logged last season in Minnesota, and likely before his 23rd birthday arrives on November 25. Queta went from fourth on the Boston big-man depth chart last season to the clear-cut No. 1 big after the summer changes.
And while neither player has been perfect, they’ve thrived when paired together.
Of the 14 five-man lineups with at least 60 minutes together this season, the Celtics’ combo of Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Minott, Queta, and Jaylen Brown are outscoring opponents by a league-best 24.3 points per 100 possessions. That’s 3.5 points better than the next closest five-man combo (Minott’s old friends in Minnesota are at +21.7). Third on that list is the Orlando team that Boston will joust with twice this weekend.
[Read more here](https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/neemias-queta-josh-minott-stats-frontcourt/745238/).
Josh “Josh Minott” Minott has been a great surprise
So is there a possibility that next season we have tatum back and have traded for another center in which case minott and queta are coming off the bench together?
Nobody jerks off the Celtics quite like Forsberg.
Going into this season I don’t think either of these guys had any trade value whatsoever, but with the default minutes and some solid counting stats, do you think they’ve both already increased their trade value into 2nd round pick territory or is it too early?
Will be interesting to see if throughout the season it gets to the point where some opponent looks at those stats and decides they each have trade value equal to a late 1st. They could be solid throw-ins if we look to put a package together for an upgrade. Minott in particular is a tricky one, because we arent’ going to be able to pay him more than the league average (13 mil per year) when he hits free agency in 2027, but if youre able to put a package together around Simons expiring + Hauser + minott as a sweetener, can it get you something now that can help you compete when tatum returns?