Luka Garza isn’t going anywhere! It was announced on Monday that the former Iowa big would be re-signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While the specifics of the contract have not been released, it is said to be a two-year deal for Garza.
Free agent C Luka Garza is returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-year deal, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/dcGAGrr7FE
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
Luka Garza has been fighting for his chance to stick in the NBA since he was drafted 52nd overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2021. Following a successful career at the University of Iowa that saw him win the National College Player of the Year award, Garza did not play much for the Pistons.
He participated in 32 games, spending most of the year in the G-League. The Pistons would opt not to bring him back at the end of the season. He would end up in Portland for Summer League, then eventually to Minnesota a couple of months later on a two-way deal.
The role has been the same over the past two seasons for Garza, taking up a role at the end of the bench while playing in the G-League. Minutes were pretty tough to earn as a big, having to compete with the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid.
Despite his limited time on the court, Garza has obviously done enough for the Wolves to want him back. They see him as a viable depth piece who can come in for spells should any of their starting bigs see an injury.
Garza won the Naismith Trophy in 2021 and finished his Iowa career as the Hawkeyes’ all-time career scoring leader with 2,306 points.
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