Following the departure of Luke Kornet to the San Antonio Spurs, the Boston Celtics wasted no time addressing their center depth by signing big man Luka Garza in free agency. Shortly after, the team also brought in forward Josh Minott from the Minnesota Timberwolves, reuniting two former teammates.
Speaking during Summer League, Garza expressed his surprise and excitement about the move. “I didn’t know it was happening, so it caught me off guard,” Garza said. “But I called him right away. We were both really excited. We’ve been through a lot. When he was a rookie, we both spent time in Iowa [with the Timberwolves’ G League team], and we worked our way up together. Now we’re seeing real opportunities for both of us.”
Garza noted that while he and Minott had limited chances in Minnesota due to the team’s deep roster, they made the most of the minutes they were given. Having someone familiar by his side in Boston, he added, makes the transition easier, especially since they already have strong on-court chemistry.
Minott also had high praise for Garza’s game: “He’s unstoppable offensively. You can’t leave him open. He brings great energy and always crashes the offensive boards hard. That’s just who he is.”
Garza’s Offensive Upside and Defensive Growth
Celtics president Brad Stevens described Garza as a “stats darling,” though much of his NBA career has been spent in a backup role behind top-tier players. Known for his offensive talent, Garza was the AP Player of the Year during his college days at Iowa. In the G League, he impressed with an average of 32.2 points over six games with the Iowa Wolves in 2022–23.
In the NBA, Garza has averaged 4.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in just over 6 minutes per game across 92 career appearances. Last season, he played 39 games for the Timberwolves, contributing 3.5 points in limited action.
Now with a fresh opportunity in Boston, Garza is eager to prove he can contribute on both ends of the court. At Summer League, he emphasized the importance of effort and intelligence, especially defensively. “The main thing I bring is playing hard. That alone helps cover for what I may lack physically. But after four years in the league, I’ve developed a better understanding of positioning, angles, and how to defend smarter.”
Garza also remains confident in his offensive skill set, highlighting his ability to create quality offense through screening, passing, and shot-making. “Offensively, I know I can help generate good flow and opportunities for my teammates as well as myself.”
With Boston reshaping its frontcourt, Garza could have a real chance to carve out a role especially if he continues improving defensively while maximizing his offensive strengths.
