Celtics’ $5.5 Million Move Could Be the Steal of the Offseason
The Boston Celtics made plenty of headlines this summer for reshaping their roster. But one of their quieter moves, signing center Luka Garza to a modest two-year, $5.5 million deal, is starting to get attention.
At the time, Garza was projected as depth behind Neemias Queta and Chris Boucher. After three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves where he played sparingly, few expected Boston’s investment to pay immediate dividends. Yet, insiders believe he may be one of the most intriguing breakout candidates on the roster.
Celtics Insider Sees Garza as Breakout Option
Jay King of The Athletic recently spotlighted Garza’s potential in a deep dive on Boston’s roster construction. He pointed out how Garza’s limited NBA minutes still show plenty of upside.
Over his career, Garza has posted an offensive rebound rate of 15.9 percent. That figure would have ranked second in the NBA last season among qualified players. Per 36 minutes, he has averaged 25.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. The catch is that those numbers came in just 584 total minutes across three years. Still, the production hints at untapped potential if Boston gives him steady opportunities.
Why Boston Might Take the Gamble
There are clear concerns. As King noted, Garza has not proven he can defend the rim at a high level, which is crucial for a Celtics team built around defensive identity. His outside shot is also a question mark.
But Boston is in evaluation mode. With Jayson Tatum sidelined long-term and the frontcourt thinned by the departures of Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet, opportunities are wide open.
Garza’s college résumé is a reminder of what he can do when trusted. A two-time First Team All-American at Iowa and a two-time Sporting News Player of the Year, he was once one of the most dominant double-double machines in the country.
The Celtics’ Big Man Picture
The Celtics enter camp with options at center: Queta, Boucher, Garza, Xavier Tillman, and rookie Amari Williams. On paper, it’s depth. But the talent hierarchy is unsettled.
If Garza can bring his energy, offensive rebounding, and scoring punch to Boston’s second unit, he may carve out a bigger role than expected. Nobody is expecting him to become an All-Star, but in a season of transition, he has a chance to become one of the Celtics’ quiet success stories.
Mavericks are quietly set to sign a shocking fourth rookie that no one expected
Within the span of just over 24 hours, the Dallas Mavericks added three rookies to an already loaded core. On the evening of June 25, the Mavs selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. A little more than a day later, they signed Ryan Nembhard and Miles Kelly to two-way deals, bringing their current total to three rookies entering the 2025-26 season.
This is more rookies than normal for Dallas, as they seem to be emphasizing youth as they begin the Flagg era, but Nembhard, Flagg, and Kelly may not be the only rookies in town next season. Entering training camp, Dallas has 20 players signed (15 standard deals, two two-way deals, and three Exhibit 10s). This means that their third and final two-way contract will likely go to one of the players on an Exhibit 10 contract, and all three of those players happen to be rookies.
After signing Jamarion Sharp earlier this week, it sounds like he will fight it out with Moussa Cisse and Matthew Cleveland to prove that they belong in Dallas long-term.
Mavericks are eyeing multiple rookies with final roster spot
Mavericks fans are already familiar with Sharp, as he has been on the last two Summer League teams and had some impressive moments during last preseason for Dallas, but since he has never suited up in an NBA regular-season game, he would be considered a rookie.
If the Mavericks are determined to sign a big man to their final two-way spot since Nembhard is a guard and Kelly is a wing, Cisse would be the only one who could pose a threat to Sharp finally securing a two-way spot. Cisse's energy, ability to run the floor, and athleticism stood out in Las Vegas for Summer League, and he could find himself on the Mavs' roster for the regular season if he shows drastic improvement during the preseason and training camp.
While another center seems like it makes the most sense considering Dallas' center room is notorious for getting injured, they could roll with another wing to join Kelly. And that's where Cleveland comes into play.
Cleveland will step into his first NBA action after playing four years of college basketball (two seasons at Florida State and two seasons at the University of Miami), and he'll join Sharp and Cisse as a player who the Mavs brought to Summer League who will now be on the training camp roster.
His best game of Summer League came against the Orlando Magic, as he finished with 17 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one block while shooting 6-11 from the field. He showed off his jumper and finishing around the rim in this game, picking up right where he left off in his final season as a Hurricane.
Cleveland averaged 17.6 points per game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from downtown, and his improvement as a shooter at the collegiate level looks promising as he begins his NBA career.
He seems like the biggest sleeper in this group, and with Cisse and Sharp not looking fully NBA-ready, he could ultimately end up being the one who sticks around after preseason ends.
Regardless of who Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd decide to give the final two-way spot to, it looks like it'll be a rookie, and the Mavericks will be heading into the 2025-26 season with four rookies on the roster. Unless the Mavericks sign their final two-way player from a different team after the preseason, they will be giving their last roster spot to a first-year player, and this is a great plan as they begin the Flagg era.
Carrying four rookies into the regular season is uncharted territory for Dallas, and it shows that they are prioritizing youth development over short-t
