On the first day of free agency, the Boston Celtics signed Luka Garza to a two-year $5.5 million contract. The 6-foot-10 center has spent his last three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. During this three-year tenure with the Wolves, Garza averaged 6.3 minutes, 4.5 points, and 1.6 rebounds. However, after the Celtics lost Luke Kornet and Al Horford could be on his way out, Boston could be counting on Garza for rotation minutes. The Celtics' other big men are Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman, and second-round pick Amari Williams. Unfortunately, the Celtics will learn the hard way that Garza isn’t a rotational center.
Garza's defense holds him back
Garza is a gifted offensive player. During his college career at Iowa, he was a dominant player. Notably, with the Wolves, Garza never averaged below 22.7 points per 36 minutes, including 29.2 points in 2023-24. While per 36 minutes stats are always inflated, they do show Garza’s offensive talent.
The real problem with Garza is his subpar defense. During his four-year career, opponents have shot higher than league average every season when guarded by Garza. Furthermore, he has never held opponents to below 66.7 percent shooting at the rim. Garza’s lack of mobility and poor rim protection make him one of the league’s worst defenders.
With an increased role in Boston, Garza will constantly be hunted on defense. The Celtics run a switch-heavy scheme, which is a terrible fit for Garza and something they’ll have to adjust when he is on the court. Garza can make a positive impact offensively; however, he’ll get torched on defense. Having a center that opposing teams can target on defense is a recipe for disaster.
Overall, Garza is an NBA-level offensive player, but his defense will always hold him back. The optimistic person may say that he never got an opportunity to play real minutes with the Wolves and could thrive with the Celtics. However, his defense is a clear reason why he didn’t play. The Wolves could have used a traditional backup center behind Rudy Gobert, as Naz Reid is more of a power forward.
Minnesota opted to draft two centers and declined Garza’s team option. This highlights their lack of confidence in Garza developing defensively. At 26, it’s unlikely that Garza will transform his game and overcome his defensive deficiencies. Ultimately, Garza is a solid depth piece, but if the Celtics and their fans are counting on him for real minutes, they will be disappointed.