The Boston Celtics have already drastically revamped their center rotation this summer.
With Al Horford's anticipated free agent departure still on the horizon, the Celtics are expected to have parted ways with all of the team's three rotation centers. Boston traded away starting center Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and let third-stringer Luke Kornet depart in free agency for the San Antonio Spurs.
During a new interview with Brian Robb of MassLive, new addition Luka Garza conceded that the Celtics managed to lure him in free agency after he took stock of Boston's starting five.
Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta will be competing with Garza for minutes.
“Obviously, the franchise speaks for itself and just the winning and the history,” Garza said. “I’m a big basketball junkie, so obviously the chance to put on that uniform and play for the Celtics is attractive enough. But obviously there’s a lot of opportunity, especially in the frontcourt and with the guys that we have. I think the front office and the coaches believe in me and what I can do, so I just saw that as really good for me at this stage in my career.”
The 6-foot-11 big man, still just 26, played limited minutes with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, behind starters Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, plus sixth man power forward/center Naz Reid.
Garza averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 boards in just 39 regular season games for Minnesota.
“I feel like I learned so much from my time in Minnesota from being around those type of guys, but I think it was time to find that opportunity to get on the floor,” Garza said. “I felt like in the limited opportunities I was able to get, I was able to show well and maximize those. But for me it was a priority for me to get somewhere where I could get more of those opportunities.”
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