The Wolves racket should not lose density next season. After Naz Reid, the Minnesota franchise has decided to keep another pivot brought to grab minutes behind Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns: Luka Garza.
The Star Tribune reports indeed that the 24-year-old player has accepted a new “two-way contract”. He already benefited from this type of contract last season, thus alternating between the Great League and the G-League.
In just under thirty appearances with Wolves, he averaged 6.5 points in 9 minutes. During February, he had successively signed matches at 19 then 25 points during “blowouts”.
The player drafted by the Pistons in 2021 (52nd choice) had logically been much more productive in the development league, within the Iowa Wolves, accumulating 31 points (65% on shots including 44% from afar), nearly 11 rebounds and 4 assists in 37 minutes of average play, in six appearances.
The Star Tribune also notes that the Wolves have not guaranteed the contract of Nathan Knight, who has become a “free agent”. Which hints that Luka Garza is indeed the fourth option inside.
| Luka Garza | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2021-22 | TED | 32 | 12 | 44.9 | 32.7 | 62.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 28 | 9 | 54.3 | 35.9 | 78.8 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 6.5 |
| Total | 60 | 11 | 49.0 | 34.1 | 69.9 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 6.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
