Latest news with #LukaGarza
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
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: Warriors, Celtics among several Al Horford suitors in free agency
The post NBA rumors: Warriors, Celtics among several Al Horford suitors in free agency appeared first on ClutchPoints. The first day of free agency has brought forth plenty of player movement, with teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies being among the busiest. To teams already above the salary cap, moving in free agency isn't quite as easy, as they have to maneuver smartly to stay below the relevant tax apron. For the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics, this very much rings true — with the former having to let Kevon Looney go to the New Orleans Pelicans and the latter having to resort to a low-cost flier in Luka Garza. Advertisement Both the Warriors and Celtics have plenty of question marks in the frontcourt, although they are looking to rectify those issues by setting their sights on the same player. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the 2022 NBA Finalists are among the many contending teams that are looking to get veteran big man Al Horford to sign on the dotted line. Included in the hunt for Horford are the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers, as per Scotto. It's not quite clear just how strong those teams' interest level is in signing the 39-year-old big man from the Dominican Republic, but one thing's for sure, both the Warriors and Celtics will be facing stiff competition for Horford's services. It's not quite clear what kind of contract Horford is commanding in free agency, although it's safe to say that he should not break the bank too much and should not cost more than the $9.5 million he made this past season. This makes him a low-cost option for any team looking to reinforce their frontcourt with the defense and shooting that Horford provides. Alas, with Horford having recently turned 39 years of age, there is real risk in him declining as soon as next season hits. Advertisement Will Al Horford sign with the Warriors? Petre Thomas-Imagn Images The Warriors may be the most desperate team for Horford after they lost Looney in free agency; ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported that the Dubs are 'locked in on getting to an agreement' with Horford after the events of free agency's first day. Alas, the Lakers may be as desperate, seeing as they haven't quite remedied their center issues yet (although they seem to be saving their money for Deandre Ayton). The Nuggets would also want a reliable backup for Nikola Jokic, and Horford fits the bill. Meanwhile, the center position isn't as pressing of a need for either the Knicks and Cavs. Advertisement The smart money is banking on Horford to return to the Celtics even if it's unlikely for Boston to contend for a championship this upcoming season amid the injury to Jayson Tatum. Horford's been at his best this past decade whenever he's in Beantown, and suffice to say, this place has become home for him. And now that he has won a championship anyway, it's not like he'll be desperate to chase another ring. Related: All Active Locker Codes For NBA 2K25 MyTEAM and MyCAREER Related: NBA rumors: Brutal Deandre Ayton Blazers revelations should give Lakers pause
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Goodbye Luke, hello Luka: on the Boston Celtics losing Kornet, signing Garza
Goodbye Luke, hello Luka -- the Boston Celtics have lost backup big man Luke Kornet to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency, and responded by poaching Minnesota Timberwolves big man Luka Garza to help make up for the loss of Kornet. The Spurs stole the Green Kornet away with a $41 million contract covering his next four seasons, leaving the Celtics a bit threadbare in their frontcourt rotation. The addition of Garza will certainly help soften the blow of losing the Vanderbilt alum, but Boston will need to do some work -- potentially a lot of it pending other free agent decisions -- to shore up their big men even with the Garza addition to the team. Advertisement The folks behind the "NBC Sports Boston" YouTube channel put together a clip that has "Celtics Talk" host Chris Forsberg reacting to the changes to the team's bigs. Check it out below to hear what he had to say. This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Goodbye Luke, hello Luka: on the Celtics losing Kornet, signing Garza
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will the Boston Celtics make any major moves this offseason?
Will the Boston Celtics make any major moves this offseason? The NBA is neck deep into the 2025 free agency period, and so far in it, the Celtics have only seen their team get worse as players like backup big men Luke Kornet decamping to the San Antonio Spurs robs the team's title core of their vaunted depth. To be fair, they have added a few new names to the roster via the 2025 NBA draft (Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga) and via free agency (Luka Garza and Josh Minott). But as things currently stand, the team's frontcourt is rickety at best, and a perfect fit for a ball club trying to tank on the sly as a worst case scenario. Advertisement The folks behind the "New England Sports Network" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Boston has entered the Chat" podcast taking a closer look at what might be coming down the pike for the Celtics this offseason. Check it out below! This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Will the Celtics make any major moves this offseason?
