Celtics Extend Qualifying Offers; Key Player to Enter Free Agency
On the brink of free agency, the Celtics have increased their offseason flexibility. They chose not to exercise the team option on Neemias Queta but extended him a qualifying offer, according to former CelticsBlogger and Spotrac’s Keith Smith. This move enables Boston to match any offers made to the promising center.
Similarly, the Celtics extended a qualifying offer to Drew Peterson, who spent the majority of last season in Maine. Peterson averaged 16.1 points with Boston’s G League affiliate, shooting nearly 37% from three-point range.
Both Queta and Peterson are eligible for another season on two-way contracts.
JD Davison, drafted 53rd overall by the Celtics in 2022 and having spent the last two years on two-way contracts, did not receive a qualifying offer. However, according to Keith Smith, there is interest in Davison returning for a third developmental season in Maine.
He has increased his scoring average from 12.5 to 20.8 points and has been an assist machine, averaging nearly nine assists per game over the past two years.
Anton Watson, selected 54th by Boston in the 2024 NBA Draft, is expected to fill one of the Celtics’ three two-way slots.