The Celtics have made their first move of free agency on Monday night, agreeing to terms with former Wolves big man Luka Garza, a source tells MassLive. The deal with Boston is a two-year pact for the veteran’s minimum. ESPN was first to offer the deal.
Garza joins a shallow Celtics frontcourt in the wake of the departures of Kristaps Porzingis (trade to Hawks) and Luke Kornet to the Spurs in free agency. Veteran big man Al Horford is also expected to leave with the Warriors being heavily rumored although he’s still unsigned as of Monday night.
Garza, 26, averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 39 games for the Timberwolves last season. He has spent the past three years in Minnesota after being drafted at No. 53 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Pistons. The Wolves turned down his team option on Monday, making the 6-foot-10 center an unrestricted free agent.
Garza was a celebrated college player at Iowa as he was the National College Player of the Year in 2021. He hasn’t been able to contribute as much in the pros after starting off his career on two-way deals. Garza at least now gets a standard deal with the Celtics as he looks to stick in Boston.
While Garza possesses skills as an offensive big, his defense is the major question mark and why he hasn’t quite stuck out in the NBA much. It’s unlikely the Celtics are going to rely on him as the main starter but more of a reserve big man.
The Celtics made a relatively minor depth move with this signing as Garza joins Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman on the roster. The C’s have already lost Porzingis, Kornet and potentially Horford, so the front court will already look significantly different come training camp.