Latest news with #LukaGarza
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Best of new Boston Celtics big man Luka Garza in 2024-25
What can we expect from new Boston Celtics big man Luka Garza? The former Minnesota Timberwolves center recently signed a deal with the Celtics for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 regular seasons, with Boston's front office hoping they can tease some talent out of the Iowa alum after having languished deep in the T-Wolves frontcourt rotation since coming into the league. One of the best scorers in all of college basketball, Garza has yet to find a niche in the NBA ecosphere, his poor defensive skills and limited ability sinking his shot from beyond the arc hampering his success at the next level. How did he play in Minnesota last season, and how could it translate to the style of play Boston expects from their bigs? The man behind the eponymous "Tomasz Kordylewski (Timi)" YouTube channel put together a clip of his best plays with the Timberwolves in 2024-25 for us to watch later at our leisure in search of such answers. Check it out below!
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Do the Boston Celtics have a front court problem?
After losing Luke Kornet, Kristaps Porzingis and potentially Al Horford this summer, the Boston Celtics front court has suffered a significant talent drain. Brad Stevens has tried to stem some of the bleeding by bringing in Luka Garza in free agency, although there's currently no guarantee he will successfully plug some of the gap left behind. Overall, the Celtics front-court rotation looks like the biggest weak point in the team's roster construction. Without Jayson Tatum, who is currently out with an Achilles tendon injury, the Celtics lack high-level talent and reliable depth at the four and the five. During a recent appearance on "98.5 The Sports Hub," The Athletic's Jay King sounded the alarm over Boston's limited front-court depth, noting that it has the potential to be "really bad." Of course, with months left until the start of the new NBA season, things could look different by opening night. Nevertheless, as currently constructed, the Celtics can't be expected to make a deep postseason run unless Mazzulla finds a way of getting the best out of his makeshift roster. You can watch the full podcast episode by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website: This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Do the Celtics have a front court problem?
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Which members of the Boston Celtics roster must show improvements next season?
The Boston Celtics will enter the 2025-26 season with multiple new faces on the roster. Luka Garza, Josh Minott and Hugo Gonzalez all project to be part of Joe Mazzulla's rotation, having joined the franchise over the summer. Of course, we may need to add second-round selections Amari Williams and Max Shulga to that list, should they find a way of breaking into Mazzulla's plans. As a retooling team, the Celtics are taking some flyers on younger talent with a point to prove. The hope will be that they can either prove themselves as future contributors or potentially increase their trade value around the NBA to help facilitate a future deal for an additional star. During a recent conversation on NESN's "Hold My Banner" podcast, the hosts discussed which members of Boston's rotation will need to show developmental jumps throughout the season, with second-year talent Baylor Scheierman, third-year forward Jordan Walsh, and Garza among the three names discussed. You can watch the full podcast episode by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens on offseason moves, future
With the trades of Boston Celtics veterans Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday now complete, and the signings of Luka Garza and Josh Minott as well, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens took some time to sit down with the media on Tuesday (July 8). The Boston president had some words about the departing Celtics, what we can expect of the newest members of the team's roster, some of the logic behind these moves in light of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA)'s second apron penalties -- and hinted strongly that beloved vet big man Al Horford is unlikely to return to the team. Let's take a look at some excerpts of what Stevens had to say about the Celtics' offseason moves to date and more. On players leaving the team via trade or free agency "I want to start by saying thank you to to Jrue (Holiday) and (Kristaps Porzingis) and Luke (Kornet) for all that they gave here and all that they meant here." "I think I could go into great detail on each of them, but Jrue being here for two years, KP being here for two years, obviously had a huge impact not only on our team, but on the city and the community and and everything else, and Luke being here a little bit longer than that. We wish those guys well. We'll be rooting for them from afar." On signing Luka Garza, Josh Minott "We've been limited in what tools we can use with where we are, right around the second apron. And so we're looking for guys on those contracts that have upside that are competitors, that are workers that that want to be good, that haven't hit their peak yet. But we've seen something in them that we think gives them a chance to be very impactful." How Payton Pritchard will see his role change "I haven't thought a ton about how much roster change will change Payton Pritchard's work ethic, because it's always at the highest. He's as good as it gets with his work, so Payton will prioritize winning, which he always has, and will continue to grow in his game ... That's what he does. That's who he is. I've said many times, he loves basketball and ... loves to compete, loves to play hard. Those factors all matter." On how much the second apron shaped the offseason "I mean, the second apron's why those trades happened. I think that those are pretty obvious. And the basketball penalties associated with those are real. We've all talked about that, and we were fortunate because we like the guys we got back, and I think that that's one of the things that we are excited about. I think he stamped his Hall of Famer candidacy here, if he didn't already have it." "We'll look forward to watching and again rooting and following him from afar. But he's as he's as good of a person as you could ever have in your building and and as part of your team and and KP, he fought some of the stuff healthwise in the last two years, but when he played he was awfully good, and we think he'll be awfully good for Atlanta this year. So again, those are not easy trades to make; those are not easy phone calls. Obviously those guys have been around the league a long time, they knew the CBA, they knew that that was a high likelihood that they could be part of a move -- and they were communicated that before." Why Boston traded for Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang "I think Anthony is a guy that people out here probably don't see as much because of the time that they play. But his ability to score, his ability to shoot the ball, make really hard shots is pretty elite. And you look at a guy that's 26 years old, that's averaged 20 a game for three straight years, I think he's a really good player and I think he can get better. That's a big part of it." "Niang has just added value to winning on each team he's been on, and he's a pain to play against, which I very much admire. He knows what he does well, and he knows how to bring out the best in his group. It's not a coincidence that he was a part of the rotation on those really good Philly (76ers) teams." On Horford's future in Boston "I don't know what I can say about this or not say about it. We made offers to both Luke and Al. We would love to have had both of them back. I'd say that's unlikely. The only reason I haven't talked about Al is because that's not final. I could probably talk about Al my whole press conference and not say enough. But I don't want to speak in absolute terms until an ultimate decision is made. But, another guy that if he were to go and and play somewhere else, I think, he is an all-time Celtic and winner and and did everything he could for this organization." Check out the rest of the presser below!
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MN Timberwolves Let Promising Young Bigs Walk
The NBA Draft is in the rearview mirror. The Minnesota Timberwolves used their two selections on big men Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarski. They then spent money on extensions for both Naz Reid and Julius Randle. With Tim Connelly handling the big men for Chris Finch's roster, it seemed like that part of the group was set. Minnesota has needed a ball handler that can facilitate from the point guard position. They'll still need to look there in free agency, but they may not be done on the big man front yet. Advertisement Luka Garza and Josh Minott have Minnesota Timberwolves options declined The Minnesota Timberwolves are up against the second apron when it comes to luxury tax implications for 2025-26 season. That's part of the reason that expectations are for Nickeil Alexander-Walker to move on. Luka Garza and Josh Minott weren't necessarily on the radar, but they're now on the way out. Related Headlines As The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski points out, it's possible that the MN Timberwolves bring Garza back with a mid-level exception. That isn't exactly straightforward though, considering Minnesota still needs to spend on other areas of the roster. Advertisement Luka Garza is something of a fan-favorite considering he hails from Iowa. After playing for the Pistons as a rookie, Garza has spent three seasons with the Timberwolves. He never averaged more than 8.7 minutes per game, and his 3.5 points per game last season were a career-low. Head coach Chris Finch didn't routinely put Garza on the floor, but he did show some flashes during limited stretches. It's unfortunate the Minnesota Timberwolves aren't keeping him around on such a minimal contract, but he should have opportunity on the open market. Josh Minott has always been more hype than actual production as was expected with his raw profile. In his third year with the Timberwolves the former Memphis big man averaged 6.0 minutes per game and just 2.6 points per game. Advertisement He certainly has to believe he'll have a better opportunity to touch the floor on a team with a bit more open rotation. Free agency officially begins on Monday June 30 at 5pm central time. Deals can't be officially signed until July 6th, but the frenzy is always fascinating. These two will join Alexander-Walker as Minnesota Timberwolves joining the fray. Related Headlines
