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Wolves must retain this rising stud on 15-man roster after impressive preseason

By Bret Stuter

Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are a lot of reasons to hold the last roster slot open on an NBA team, and the Minnesota Timberwolves front office can probably cite more reasons than I can. It’s clear that Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly not only knows what to do but that he has a clear plan of how to get there.

Like a symphony orchestra tuning up before a concert, each individual performer is good in their own right. But when the conductor steps up and synchronizes every instrument to the same score, the blend of sounds is both mesmerizing and captivating. So too has Connelly blended the talents of individual professional basketball players into a synchronized Timberwolves roster that is greater than the sum of its parts.

But there is one empty chair on the current Timberwolves roster, and I for one hope that center Luka Garza fills that last seat.

Why does Luka Garza deserve the 15th slot on the Timberwolves roster? Because he will sign with an NBA team this season, and I, for one, hope that NBA team is the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Garza is too good for another Two-Way contract

Let’s not lie. I was a bit surprised that the Minnesota Timberwolves offered Luka Garza a second consecutive Two-Way contract, particularly after the way that Garza stepped up so effectively throughout the 2022-23 NBA season. Not only was he a solid contributor to the Timberwolves, but he absolutely dominated the G-League competition when he played for the Iowa Wolves last season.

And he is picking up right where he left off for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2023 preseason.


What this all boils down to is the simple fact that Luka Garza is simply too good NOT to sign with an NBA team. How has he looked this preseason?

  1. Game 1: 11 mins | 12 points | 6 rebounds | 1 block |  0-1 3PT
  2. Game 2:    9 mins | 7 points | 5 rebounds | 1 assist | 1-3 3PT
  3. Game 3:  11 mins | 6 points | 2 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 steal |  0-1 3PT
  4. Game 4:  32 mins | 30 points | 4 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 block | 2-5 3PT
  5. TOTALS:  63 mins | 55 Pts | 17 RB | 7 AST | 2 BLK | 1 STL | 3-10 3PT

Those are pretty solid numbers for a starting or strong rotational player, let alone for a young man who is vying for a standard NBA contract.  Is it enough? I think so, but it will depend on the Timberwolves.

I can’t see what more Luka Garza can do to earn that final roster slot, other than keep on doing what he has been doing so far.

Here are more Minnesota Timberwolves articles to catch you up today:

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