The Boston Celtics are expected to explore ways to acquire a higher-end starting center this summer despite Neemias Queta’s breakout 2025/26 campaign, according to reporting by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst.
Queta, 27, set career highs with 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks while starting 75 games and finishing fourth in Most Improved Player voting. Even so, one Western Conference scout told ESPN that Boston needs “a higher-level center” to be viewed as a legitimate championship contender. The club will likely have only a mid-level exception available and has already traded many of its larger contracts, complicating any pursuit of an impact big man.
Harden and Cavaliers Expected to Discuss New Deal
Cleveland’s payroll pressures are pushing the team toward negotiating a multiyear contract with James Harden that would lower his 2026/27 cap hit instead of having the veteran guard exercise a $42.3 million player option, sources said. “That is the best path to get under the apron without a salary dump,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN, adding that the Cavaliers would likely pay Harden more than he could command on the open market. Harden and head coach Kenny Atkinson are believed to have a strong working relationship.
Knicks Weigh Extension or Trade for Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns has two seasons left on his current contract, with 2027/28 being a player option, positioning the Knicks center as a prime extension candidate this off-season. An Eastern Conference executive suggested to ESPN that New York should either extend Towns or consider moving him. Any deal could depend on how the Knicks finish their current playoff run; a discounted agreement similar to Jalen Brunson’s could help the franchise keep its core intact.
Pistons Reluctant to Offer Full Max to Duren
Pistons center Jalen Duren would become eligible for a “Rose Rule” contract worth up to 30 percent of the salary cap if he earns an All-NBA nod this spring. However, team sources indicated to ESPN that Detroit is hesitant to reach that figure. One Western Conference executive projected that Duren might not even secure a standard 25 percent max, speculating that an average salary near $35 million per season could be a compromise both sides find “uncomfortable” but workable.
The Celtics’ search for a frontline upgrade, along with pivotal contract questions in Cleveland, New York and Detroit, are expected to headline NBA off-season negotiations once the 2025/26 playoffs conclude.
Source: Hoops Rumors
