Timberwolves Converting Luka Garza Deal To Standard Contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves are converting the two-way contract of center Luka Garza to a standard deal, per NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The move will mean Garza is eligible for the postseason.

Garza is 6-foot-10 and in his second season with Minnesota after spending his rookie season with the Detroit Pistons. He’s appeared in 21 games with the Timberwolves this year, splitting time between the NBA and G League. With the Timberwolves, he’s averaging 4.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.2 minutes a night.

In Wednesday’s blowout win over the Toronto Raptors, Garza erupted for 16 points in just nine minutes of action.

Minnesota (53-23) enters Thursday night in a tie with the Denver Nuggets for first place in the Western Conference standings. The Timberwolves have an open roster spot, so they won’t need to make another move to make room for Garza.

Garza, 25, is a product of Washington, D.C., and starred at Iowa as a college player. The Pistons initially selected him with the No. 52 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He appeared in 32 games as a rookie, averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds.

He then signed a training camp contract with the Timberwolves as a free agent in August 2022, then a two-way deal before the season. Until now, he’s been on a two-way contract his entire time in Minnesota, after signing another one in July 2023.

“After his rookie season in Detroit, Garza’s contract option was declined, making him a free agent. In 2022, Garza landed with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-way contract. In 2022-2023, Garza appeared in 28 games for Minnesota’s main roster, averaging a career-high seven points per game,” wrote Justin Grasso of SI.com.

“Encouraged by what Garza put on display during his sophomore effort in Minnesota, the Timberwolves brought him back on a two-way deal for the majority of the 2023-2024 NBA season.”

The NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 20.