The Boston Celtics are picking up their team option on Neemias Queta for next season and will sign the 7-foot center to a fully guaranteed four-year, $56 million contract extension.

Queta’s agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, told ESPN of the deal on Friday morning that locks in his client through the 2030-31 season. The Celtics exercised Queta’s $2.67 million team option for the 2026-27 season, with the new contract starting with the 2027-28 campaign.

Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in 76 games (75 starts) this past season. He shot 65.3% from the field en route to finishing fourth in the NBA’s Most Improved Player voting.

He has averages of 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 186 career games (81 starts) with the Sacramento Kings and Celtics. He was selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.

Queta will turn 27 on July 13.

–Field Level Media

Kyle Lowry, a veteran of 20 NBA seasons, intends to sign a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptos and retire with the franchise for which his name is synonymous, Sportsnet reported Friday.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Lowry, now 40, with the No. 24 overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft and at the 2009 trade deadline. He was dealt him to the Houston Rockets as part of a three-team deal that returned Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks and a 2009 first-round draft pick to Memphis from the Orlando Magic.

Before the 2012-13 season, the Rockets traded him to the Raptors for Gary Forbes and a 2013 first-round pick.

It was in Toronto that Lowry became a star, earning six consecutive All-Star selections (2014-20) and winning the 2018-19 NBA title with the Raptors.

He is the franchise’s all-team leader in 3-point field goals (1,518), assists (4,277) and steals (873). He stands second to another Toronto icon, DeMar DeRozan, in minutes played and games played.

A rebuilding Toronto team traded Lowry to the Miami Heat prior to the 2021-22 season, and he later signed with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers in 2014, appearing in just 72 games there over two-plus seasons.

He ends his career with averages of 13.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals over 1,187 career games.

In his 601 games over nine seasons in Toronto, Lowry averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

He also won a 2016 Olympic gold medal with Team USA.

Sportsnet reported the Raptors have set a news conference for Tuesday, at which time is it expected Lowry will sign the contract and retire.

–Field Level Media

Happy 250th to all! We’ve got a packed weekend of baseball on tap, let’s celebrate the holiday with some winning MLB picks.

Season Record 40-40-2, -2.68 Units

Cardinals at Cubs

Cards F5 (+102 FanDuel)

We get a nice Rivalry Series here with the added twist that these teams are right in the middle of the NL Wild Card chase. That’s kind of surprising as far as the Cardinals are concerned as they sold off all sorts of pieces in the offseason as they looked to open up playing time for their younger players. Well its worked way better than they could have imagined. Jordan Walker has finally lived up to his prospect hype, and then some as he’s slashing 288/.342/.509 with 18 homers and 59 RBI’s in a shade over half a season. Meanwhile JJ Wetherholt is the current NL ROY favorite as he mans 2B and bats leadoff every day and he’s popped 12 homers with 9 steals and a .259 average. He’s got crazy good control of the strike zone for a rookie with a 10.35 BB% vs, a 15.9% K%.

I mostly love the Cards in this spot thanks to the pitching matchup. St Louis starts Andre Pallante, who’s quietly given them a very solid season. He has a 3.83 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while not missing a start and getting decently deep into games. He’s gone at least 6 IP in his last 4 starts and 8 of his last 11. He doesn’t get the whiffs you’d like as he has just an 18.7% K%, but he does limit contact well. His EV against is just 87 and it’s mostly on the ground with a 6.8 LA. That should prove helpful in hot and possibly windy Wrigley.

The Cubs counter with David Peterson, just imported from the reeling Mets. He pitched well in his first start with Chicago (5.2 IP, 2 ER) but it came with only 2 K’s. It’s been an overall forgettable year though with a 5.86 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. Like Palencia, he doesn’t strike out many (19.2%) and keeps in on the ground (7.7 LA). Unlike Pallante, its 90 EV contact. He’ll be better with the Cubs thanks their infield defense, but its a really tough formula for success. Give me the Cards here.

Red Sox at Angels

Under 8 (-115 bet365)

It’s two pretty weak teams here but we have a nice matchup of lefties at least. Jake Bennett starts for the Red Sox and he has a 3.27 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 6 starts. He’s really been lethal in his last 2 outings, limiting the Rockies (at Coors) and the Yankees to just 1 ER total over 12.1 IP. The Angels start Reid Detmers and he’s a rare bright spot in another dismal season in Anaheim with a 3.88 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 27.8% K%. His xERA of 3.01 suggests he’s been even better than that. The Red Sox have played a bit better recently, but it’s mostly thanks to the their pitching as they still have a lousy lineup. Let’s bank on the arms here.