The Minnesota Timberwolves have kicked off the 2024 NBA free agency by re-signing fan-favorite center Luka Garza on a two-year minimum contract.
Garza, who has been with the Timberwolves on a two-way contract for the past two seasons, was converted to a full NBA contract late last season, allowing him to join the playoff roster.
In his time with the Timberwolves, Garza has consistently provided a scoring boost when given minutes, averaging 5.3 points in just 6.9 minutes per game. During the 2023-24 season, he ranked 6th in the entire NBA in points per 36 minutes.
Garza adds depth to the Timberwolves’ strong big-man rotation, which includes Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid. Although the frontcourt minutes are largely spoken for, the Wolves appreciate Garza’s readiness to contribute whenever needed.
Wrote about this for this morning. Wolves very much planned on having Garza back. They love his work ethic, his offensive skill set and trust him to be ready if needed. https://t.co/O6xUCadt7y
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 1, 2024
With the Timberwolves already over the NBA’s second luxury tax apron, they need affordable options for potential reserve minutes throughout the long season. Garza’s minimum contract provides valuable coverage in case of injury without straining the budget.
Garza aims to continue improving his defensive skills as he seeks more consistent playing time on a healthy Timberwolves roster.
Next, the Timberwolves will focus on re-signing their own free agents, Kyle Anderson and Monté Morris, or signing additional players to minimum contracts to complete the roster.
