Minnesota Timberwolves have announced the signing of center Luka Garza to a two-year contract, marking their first move since free agency began on Sunday afternoon. Garza was mostly on a two-way deal with the Wolves for the previous two seasons. However, Garza’s two-way contract was ripped up when the Wolves had an available roster spot late in the previous season and boosted him up to an NBA contract. Under his new contract, Garza will earn the minimum wage of little over $2.1 million for the next season.
The Wolves have a lot of centers in Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Naz Reid, but Garza’s offensive prowess and work ethic have always impressed them. Prior to moving to Minnesota, Garza was a member of the Detroit Pistons. Of his 85 NBA games, 53 were with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over his career, he has averaged 5.5 points per game. Garza’s primary role on the court is mop-up duty, but throughout the course of the last two seasons, injuries to players in front of him have occasionally required the Wolves to employ him heavily in regular-season games. When Towns and Gobert were injured in March of the previous season, Garza participated in a few games. Then during a Denver home game when Reid also was out, Garza played 22 minutes and had 11 points in a 115-112 loss to the Denver Nuggets at home
In the event both Reid and Gobert are not on the club in a year, Garza’s two-year contract might offer depth at the position. Both Reid and Gobert have player options remaining on their contracts following this season. The Wolves still have three free agents available: Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris, and Jordan McLaughlin. However, they are getting ready to part ways with Anderson because he is expected to demand too much money in free agency for a team that will already be well into the luxury tax next season.
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