Timberwolves Face Tough Call on Luka Garza’s Future
The Minnesota Timberwolves are grappling with a tough decision regarding Luka Garza, the former Iowa Hawkeyes standout. Garza, known for his offensive talent, has yet to make a significant impact with the Timberwolves, which has been a disappointment considering his impressive offensive skill set.
However, his defensive shortcomings have limited his opportunities for consistent playing time in the NBA. In today’s fast-paced, positionless basketball era, where versatility on defense is crucial, Garza’s inability to guard multiple positions has put him at a disadvantage.
The Timberwolves now find themselves in a challenging position with the fan favorite. Garza, who was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft and joined Minnesota in 2022, is facing uncertainty. The team has a $2.3 million club option on him, which they must decide on by June 29. Given the team’s tight salary cap situation, retaining Garza could be difficult.
While $2.3 million might not seem like a huge sum, with the new second apron rules in place, every dollar counts. It may be in Minnesota’s best interest to save that money rather than commit another year to Garza, who has had limited playing time.
Over his three seasons with the Timberwolves, Garza has played in just 92 games, averaging 4.9 points and 2 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game.
Garza was a dominant force at Iowa, averaging over 20 points per game in his final two college seasons. In 2020-21, he was named Player of the Year after posting 24.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, showcasing his offensive prowess with impressive shooting splits of 55.3% from the field, 44.0% from three, and 70.9% from the free-throw line.
Unfortunately, his college success hasn’t translated to the NBA, and based on his performance in his first few years in the league, it seems unlikely that it will.
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