Luka Garza

After a rookie season in Detroit followed by three modest seasons with the Timberwolves, Garza signed a two-year contract with Boston. Typically, such a signing would be viewed as a good team tweaking the end of its bench. But with Jayson Tatum injured (Achilles), Kristaps Porzingis traded and Al Horford contemplating retirement, the Celtics are woefully thin at power forward and center. Garza is competing with Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman, Sam Hauser and Chris Boucher for minutes. The upcoming season is the first real opportunity for Garza to play meaningful NBA minutes. But fans expecting a Luke Kornet-like breakout should dampen expectations. For one, Garza is not a rim protector. Over the past four years, Garza has averaged 0.4 blocks per 36 minutes. On the positive, Boston really needs his rebounding -- he averaged 9.2 boards over those same 36 minutes. And Garza certainly proved he can score back in his old college days. The 2021 AP College Basketball Player of the Year averaged 24 points per game over his last two seasons at Iowa. But it's doubtful that Garza sees the same 31 minutes per game in Boston that he enjoyed as a Hawkeye. Presumably, the 6-foot-10 center would be happy to improve on the career-high 12.2 minutes per game he played in 2021-22 as a rookie with the Pistons. That goal is well within reach, but to keep Coach Joe Mazzulla happy and stay on the floor, he'll need to prove he can guard multiple positions, a Celtic staple. Read Past Outlooks