Celtics dip into center market with first free-agent signing

The Boston Celtics shored up their center depth with their first new addition of free agency.

As first reported by Shams Charania Monday night, the C's have agreed to a deal with former Timberwolves and Pistons big man Luka Garza. It's a two-year contract worth $5.5 million, fully guaranteed.

Garza is a career 49% shooter, including 60.9% on two-pointers. He hasn't been much of an asset in the 3-pointer department, as he's a career 31.4% career shooter from downtown. Garza hasn't started a game since the 2021-22 season and has averaged only 6.3 minutes per game over the past three seasons.

^{Luka Garza}

Despite his international-sounding name, Garza is actually a native of Washington, D.C. and played college ball at Iowa. He led the Big Ten in scoring in each of his final two seasons with the Hawkeyes, and earned All-American honors in both of them. He was also AP Player of the Year and won both the Wooden Award and Naismith Award.

Garza's elite college production obviously hasn't translated to the NBA, but apparently that was somewhat expected, as he was drafted late in the second round in the 2021 draft. The Celtics may look to unlock the scoring touch he showed at Iowa. At a minimum, Garza could function as something of a replacement for the departing Luke Kornet.