The Minnesota Timberwolves made arguably the biggest move of the offseason. They traded multiple first-round picks to pair Rudy Gobert with Karl-Anthony Towns, a head-scratching move to some; and a transaction that could finally put them over the top, according to others.
The early returns of this experiment haven’t exactly been encouraging. Chris Finch’s team ranks in the middle of the pack offensively at 114.3 points per game, and they’re the seventh-worst defensive team with 116.2 points allowed per game. More worryingly, they’re off/on numbers with Gobert on the floor makes us think that he’s just not a good fit next to Towns.
So, with Naz Reid providing nothing different, at least in terms of skill set, it’s not a surprise to see the Timberwolves shake things up by signing Luka Garza to a two-way contract.
Luka Garza was one of the best Iowa Hawkeyes basketball players of all time, setting many college records during his stay on the team. He has then selected by the Pistons in the 2021 draft, who waived him in June. The Timberwolves would then sign him as a free agent in August.
Garza can bring something different to the table and give the Wolves different looks in 20+ minutes per game off the bench.
And while some may think that he’s not good enough or impactful enough to be a part of an NBA rotation, we’re talking about one of the biggest winners and most proven players in all of the college basketball scene of the last decade. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what he could realistically give the Timberwolves.
What About Rebounding?
Ironically, the Timberwolves are getting bullied on both sides of the board. Coach Chris Finch isn’t satisfied with his team’s effort boxing out and holding on to rebounds, and Garza has always been a specialist in that regard. He’s a bruiser and a guy with a great instinct for the offensive glass:
“I think we’ve got to find a way to be more physical and more gritty with our smalls on the glass,” Finch said. “A lot of the rebounds guys are getting on us are like these 50-50 rebounds that come out to the mid-range. Those should be ones that our guards are able to get. We’re just not getting those.”
Garza has been a walking double-double throughout his career. He’s gritty, tough, and hard to move in the paint when he establishes position. While those traits make him a suspect defender, they also help him dominate as a rebounder.
Timberwolves Need A Leader
The Timberwolves need to change from within. Towns has never been much of a leader, as much as he feels like he is, and the same can be said of Gobert. D’Angelo Russell has regressed, and Anthony Edwards is still young. So, I’m not saying Garza will take over and be the team’s leader, but he’s a veteran already despite his youth in the NBA, and his spirit on the court during his days in Iowa was contagious:
“Last year when we turned it around, we came out going at teams,” Edwards said. “I think we got to a point where we was like, ‘We done losing.’ We started going at everybody. I think it’s going to happen. It’s going to come.”
Garza Could Be A Catalyst
Realistically, Luka Garza will only be on the floor for 20 minutes a night at best. But the Timberwolves’ second unit has lacked an offensive catalyst, and he might as well be it. He can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting skills, and you know he’ll get his teammates some open shots with his screen-setting.
There’s a big chance Garza will never be an NBA-caliber defender. He has zero lateral quickness and struggles to stay in front of quicker players on switches. But he’s got the offensive repertoire and rebounding skills the Timberwolves could really use off the bench.
