The financial constraints the Boston Celtics faced this offseason meant there was no blockbuster addition for them.
Signing Luka Garza and Josh Minott -- both of whom played last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves -- certainly didn't set off any fireworks.
Garza and Minott were fringe players for their last employer, but are expected to have much larger roles now that they're with the Celtics, who are most likely looking at a gap year after trading Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday along with Jayson Tatum being sidelined as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens looks for Boston to get the most out of Garza and Minott as Stevens has full faith that the team can tap into their potential unlike the Timberwolves.
"Luka obviously has been a stats darling but on limited time behind very, very good players," Stevens told reporters Tuesday at the Auerbach Center, per MassLive's Souichi Terada. "And same thing with Minott. Minott is a guy that brings a lot of versatility to the table. He's a person who can guard several positions, can shoot a little bit but plays with great energy and length. Both those guys really rebound.
"So as we have a team that is being retooled, I think the biggest thing is that bringing in guys that can complement our best players and our core but also have some upside and maybe some unrealized upside thus far."
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Garza's numbers won't jump off the page as he averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game last season. Garza's per-36 stats look much better -- 22.7 points and 8.9 rebounds -- and if the Celtics can get a fraction of that then the two-year, $5.5 million dollar contract they signed Garza to will look like a steal.
Garza could be Boston's starting center next season while Minott will provide depth on the wing. Minott's effort and energy could easily turn him into a fan favorite.
The Celtics will give Garza and Minott an opportunity they've been looking for since entering the NBA. And it obviously will be up to them to seize the chance in front of them.
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