Contract details suggest Neemias Queta still has something to prove to Sacramento Kings
Neemias Queta will go into training camp with a chance to make the Kings’ regular season roster, but his new contract suggests the 7-foot center from Portugal still has something to prove as he enters his third season.
Earlier this week, the Kings signed Queta to his first standard NBA contract after he played his first two seasons on two-way contracts. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported Thursday that Queta received a two-year, $4.2 million deal, but the first year is only partially guaranteed and the second year is non-guaranteed.
Queta, 24, will be a focal point in one of Sacramento’s biggest position battles as the Kings continue their search for a backup center behind three-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis. Alex Len, Nerlens Noel and Queta will compete for the job with Trey Lyles expected to log minutes at center in small-ball lineups.
The Kings re-signed Len to a one-year, $3.2 million contract. They brought in Noel on a one-year, $3.2 million deal, but only $300,000 is guaranteed if he is released before the season begins.
Queta, who the Kings selected out of Utah State with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, was dominant for G League Stockton over his first two seasons while struggling to find his footing in Sacramento.
Queta was runner-up for the G League MVP award last season after averaging 16.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 68% from the field and 80.3% at the free-throw line. He also earned All-NBA G League and All-Defensive G League honors.
Queta hasn’t been nearly as effective in limited NBA minutes. He appeared in 20 games for Sacramento over his first two seasons, averaging 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per contest.
Queta, the first Portuguese player to appear in an NBA game, told The Sacramento Bee he hoped to remain with the Kings when asked about his future in July at the Las Vegas Summer League.
“I feel like they’ve been knowing me for two years,” Queta said. “They know what I’ve been able to do. I feel like I’ve been able to showcase that to them and I feel like it’s a great place for me to keep growing.”
