Minnesota Timberwolves take a shot on a young center

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a couple of under-the-radar signings in the month of August 2022 that may be nothing more than training camp bodies. But when Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly makes the effort to sign a player, or two, to the Timberwolves roster in his first season with the team, it seems like a good idea to acknowledge the signing.

Both CJ Elleby and Luka Garza are young additions to the roster, and as such have a solid uphill battle to make the team.

Will Eudy introduced Elleby in early August, but we haven’t talked about Luka Garza just yet.

But there are reasons to investigate Luka Garza further.

Luka Garza was a 2021 NBA Draft center who was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 52nd pick in that draft. Ultimately, he played in 32 games for the Pistons and even started five contests. Garza would later sign on with the Portland Trail Blazers summer league team.

Garza showed potential while playing for the Pistons G League team, the Motor City Cruise. While there, he put up 29.8 minutes per game, scoring 20.62 points per game, hauling in 9.50 rebounds per game, and even 1.06 blocks per game.

Standing 6-foot-11 and weighing 245-pounds, he has all of the traits that the Minnesota Timberwolves could be looking for in a young developmental center. And thanks to the fact that the Timberwolves have moved All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns from center to power forward, Garza is the third center on the Timberwolves’ depth chart.

As such, his chances of making the team may be remote, but seem to be better than others.

Garza has a complete arsenal of offensive firepower but he struggles with lateral movement. That could limit his playing minutes and for Coach Finch to play him with a stronger defensive unit. If he does not make the team, he is an ideal player to assign to the Iowa Wolves for further development.