With NBA free agency approaching, the Minnesota Timberwolves will have some crucial decisions to make. Much of the focus is on the futures of Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. However, the Wolves also need to decide what to do with Luka Garza and Josh Minott, who both have team options. The Wolves have until June 29th to either accept or decline these options. While neither player has played much during their three seasons with the Wolves, it's worth considering if they should be brought back as depth pieces.
Luka Garza
Garza has a $2.3 millon team option. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 5.6 minutes, 3.5 points, and 1.4 rebounds across 39 games. Notably, Garza's 3.5 points were a career low. Still, that's not bad production given his low minutes. The Iowa product's offense has always been at an NBA level. However, Garza's subpar defense makes it tough for him to get minutes. At 26, this is likely who Garza is.
Regardless, it could be worth picking up his option, as the Wolves' center depth is far from a strength. Rudy Gobert and Reid are the only centers in the Wolves' rotation. Furthermore, Reid is more of a power forward who can play center if needed. Two-way player Jesse Edwards is the Wolves' only other center. If the Wolves lose Reid in free agency, their center depth will be a weakness. The Wolves could look to draft a center with either pick 17 or 31, which would impact Garza's future. Ultimately, the Wolves' Garza decision will come down to who they draft and their confidence in re-signing Reid.
Josh Minott
Minott played slightly more minutes than Garza, posting averages of 6 minutes, 2.6 points, and 1 rebound across 46 games. At 22, the 6-foot-8 wing has the potential to develop into a rotational player. Minott is an NBA-level defender and a solid finisher. However, as a career, 33.9 percent 3-point shooter, Minott needs to find more consistency from beyond the arc to get real minutes. With Alexander-Walker unlikely to return, bolstering wing depth would be wise. The 2022 second-round pick has a $2.1 million player option; he might be worth keeping around for wing depth and his upside.
Similar to Garza, the Timberwolves' draft selections will likely influence whether they pick up Minott's option. It's also possible, perhaps even likely, that the Wolves decline both Garza's and Minott's options for increased financial flexibility. In this scenario, they could even re-negotiate similar contracts with those two players. Overall, in an offseason full of diffcult decisions for the Wolves, it's worth monitoring the futures of Minott and Garza.