The Boston Celtics signed Luka Garza to a two-year contract in the offseason with the belief that he fit Joe Mazzulla’s system as a stretch five, but that has already been proven wrong. This was a gamble because the Celtics were Garza’s third team in five years, and he was never part of the Timberwolves' nightly rotation. Brad Stevens thought the 6’10 big man had more to offer, but it hasn’t worked out.
The Celtics completely remade their big man group in the offseason. Kristaps Porzingis was traded at the perfect moment. Boston let Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk in free agency. They were trying to cut costs, which meant taking some gambles on minimum players they hoped could offer more production in a new situation.
Garza has been a DNP in three consecutive games and has played 15 total minutes in the last eight contests. He is shooting 44.0 percent from 3-point range, but the defensive issues are preventing him from getting on the floor. This signing is going to go down as a bust.
Celtics’ Luka Garza gamble has been a bust
Garza averages 6.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 13.1 minutes per game so far this season. He is shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 44.0 percent on his 3-point attempts. He has even produced a massive 0.230 win shares per 48 minutes, but those numbers don’t tell the entire story.
The Celtics have been outscored by 49 points in his 249 minutes this season. They have a negative-8.3 net rating with Garza on the floor and a positive-8.8 when he goes to the bench. Boston is 17.1 points per 100 possessions better without the 6’10 big man this season. That number seems impossible, but underscores his defensive struggles and lack of impact on winning.
Boston has won seven of their last ten games, which coincides with coach Mazzulla removing Garza from the rotation. He has played sparingly in four of those games, but is no longer part of the nightly mix like he was to begin the season.
The 26-year-old doesn’t protect the rim and struggles on the defensive glass. He has to play at the five to maximize his offensive value, but that leaves his team with a gigantic defensive hole.
Mazzulla has given him plenty of chances. Sadly, the Celtics are finding out why Garza struggled to get minutes in Minnesota. The Wolves have Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid, but they also knew the problems Garza creates.
Neemias Queta has emerged as a strong option at the five, but the Celtics desperately need a big man upgrade before the deadline. They cannot count on Garza, Chris Boucher, or Xavier Tillman Sr. for consistent minutes. It has forced Mazzulla to go small for stretches and try to figure things out on the fly.
Boston looks like a serious threat in the East, especially if Jayson Tatum returns. To improve their odds, the Cs must go get a center upgrade before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
The Boston Celtics’ gamble on Luka Garza has not worked out. He is a stretch five, but the defensive issues are too much to overcome. Garza is out of the rotation as the signing has gone bust. Brad Steven still has a strong track record, but he swung and missed on this one. Fans should expect him to make up for it before the deadline. That is what the best do.