The Celtics have agreed to a two-year deal with center Luka Garza, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Keith Smith of Spotrac confirms (via Twitter) that the deal is a minimum contract, which would come in around $5.3MM.
The 26-year-old Garza is entering his fifth season in the league after starting his career with the Pistons before spending the last three seasons with the Timberwolves, where he averaged 4.5 points and 1.6 assists in 6.3 minutes per night over three years.
Smith adds that the Celtics have had an eye on Garza for a while, having previously inquired about his availability. After losing Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks, Luke Kornet to the Spurs, and expecting to be unable to retain Al Horford, the Celtics find their frontcourt rotation very thin, with just Xavier Tillman and Neemious Queta under contract.
Garza has never averaged more than 8.7 minutes per game, but he brings size and energy to a team that is looking to tread water as Jayson Tatum recovers from his ruptured Achilles.