Minnesota Timberwolves center Luka Garza (ankle) is available ahead of Sunday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. Garza has been cleared to play after being listed as questionable due to a sprained left ankle. Fellow big man Rudy Gobert (back) is returning on Sunday after missing the last 10 games. That being said, Garza will probably fall out of the rotation or play only a handful of minutes with Gobert returning. There is no need to stream Garza with Gobert and Naz Reid healthy.
Luka Garza Signs Two-Year Extension With Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves center Luka Garza will return to the team on a two-year deal. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, it's a $4.51 million contract for Garza, which includes a team option for the second year. After making his NBA debut with the Pistons in 2021-22, Garza has spent the past two campaigns in Minnesota. In 53 appearances with the team, he has averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 rebounds across 6.9 minutes. The former Iowa standout has dominated in the G League with a career average of 29.9 points, but he sees very little action with the Timberwolves, and the situation will likely remain the same in 2024-25.
The Detroit Pistons recalled center Luka Garza from their G-League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, on Thursday. He will likely suit up for the team's game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday and he could see a few minutes in the contest. Garza will be behind fellow big men Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III and Kelly Olynyk on the depth chart. If any one or two of those three players wind up sitting down the stretch, we could see some extended action for Garza.
Luka Garza, Derrick Walton Jr. Draw Starts Wednesday
Detroit Pistons center Luka Garza and point guard Derrick Walton Jr. are among the starting five for Wednesday's contest against the Knicks. It marks the second consecutive start for the duo, both of whom have seen significant increases in both minutes and offensive usage due to widespread injuries and health and safety protocols battering the Pistons' roster. Garza is tasked with a difficult matchup vs. a strong New York interior defense, while Walton is coming off a 31-minute performance in which he was held scoreless. Saddiq Bey and Hamidou Diallo remain Detroit's primary DFS targets Wednesday, although Garza and Walton are sure to garner some GPP appeal due to their low price tags.
Derrick Walton Jr., Luka Garza Earn Starts Against Spurs
Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Walton Jr. and center Luka Garza will be in the starting unit on Sunday against San Antonio. The duo gets a chance to show what they are capable of because the team is short of bodies. Detroit has eight players in health and safety protocols. Walton Jr. will play his first game of the season after the Pistons snapped him up on a 10-day deal this week. He also featured for Detroit in a handful of games in 2019-20 and has played for Miami and the Clippers, but Walton Jr. hasn't managed to establish himself in the NBA. It's a big opportunity for him now. The same applies to Garza, who's so far averaged only 8.9 minutes a night during his rookie campaign.
Detroit Pistons center Luka Garza will start Wednesday's contest against Milwaukee, his second consecutive outing among the starting five while Isaiah Stewart serves his two-game suspension. Garza's presence with the first unit is unlikely to last beyond Wednesday, but he still holds sizable DFS appeal due to his low price tag. In just 17 minutes vs. the Heat on Tuesday, Garza picked up five fouls, which limited him to only seven points and three rebounds. Trey Lyles also stands to see an increased workload without Stewart in the mix, although neither he nor Garza yet holds relevant season-long appeal.
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