The Boston Celtics agreed to a two-year $5.5 million contract with Luka Garza on the opening night of free agency to help fill their center void, but that deal will quickly go down as a disaster. Shams Charania reported it is fully guaranteed for a player who is already 26 years old and never played more than 389 minutes in an NBA season. Tatum gets more than that in 11 games when healthy.
The Celtics lost Luke Kornet to the Spurs and are expecting to see Al Horford depart in the coming days. After trading Kristaps Porzingis, Boston did not have a center on their roster. Fans might argue they still don’t as Garza has never locked down a consistent role or shown a skill that projects to get him more playing time.
The Celtics signed a 6’10 center on June 30. Fans knew it would be to a bargain contract as they attempted to keep their spending in check. Nobody expects Garza to be the option, and fans can only see nightmare scenarios ahead.
Celtics signed the worst center option imaginable in Luka Garza
Garza played more than ten minutes six times in the 2024-25 season. He scored more than ten points in three games and got more than four rebounds just once. Are Celtics fans suddenly supposed to expect him to become a key piece of their rotation? If not, who is playing center? There is nobody else on their roster.
The offseason is not done. Brad Stevens and the front office are likely waiting for a bargain to develop, but why sign Garza and fully guarantee his deal? He has proven nothing and is in his prime. Expecting some massive leap seems unwise.
The Celtics want to make the playoffs next season and be ready to compete for a championship when Jayson Tatum returns in 2027. They are keeping their spending in check this summer, but that gives them even more reason to make every dollar count. Signing Garza at a position of need leaves plenty for fans to desire.
The Boston Celtics dodged the second tax apron by trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Their roster will look different next season. The championship core is split up, but Brown and Derrick White are a strong top-two capable of pushing the franchise to the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
Stevens has much work to do if he plans on making the Cs a title contender in 2027 and signing Luka Garza isn’t that type of move. This will go down as one of the worst deals of the offseason, and fans shouldn’t at all be surprised.