The Celtics keep getting the same message from Luka Garza, and it’s getting harder to brush aside.
Garza arrived in Boston last season as a low-profile signing on a minimum deal, the kind of frontcourt depth piece that usually sits near the end of the bench. He wasn’t supposed to matter much behind Neemias Queta, Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman. But once injuries and inconsistency opened the door, he forced his way into the conversation.
What Garza brought was simple and hard to ignore: energy, rebounding, and a touch that stretched beyond the arc. He gave the Celtics solid minutes and eventually worked his way into the backup role behind Queta. That play was part of why Boston felt comfortable moving on from Boucher and Tillman at the trade deadline.
Even then, the Celtics never seemed fully sold. The backup job later went to Nikola Vucevic, and Garza was pushed aside despite the fact that, as the source puts it, “Garza never should have lost his job to Vucevic.” Vucevic was not as effective, but his contract and reputation carried weight, and Joe Mazzulla stuck with him until finally benching him in Game 7.
This season, the pattern has returned with Mitchell Robinson. Boston signed Robinson in free agency and again left Garza as a fringe rotation player and third center. And once again, Garza has been the more productive option.
Robinson has struggled badly at both ends, while Garza has kept fighting for every minute he gets. Through seven games, Garza has logged 82 minutes, averaging 7 points and 3 rebounds while shooting 47% from three.
The impact numbers tell the same story. Boston is +32 with Garza on the floor.
Robinson, who has played 116 minutes, has the Celtics at -42 during his minutes.
That gap is impossible to ignore.
The source’s view is blunt: “Garza has been far better than Mitchell Robinson.” It also argues that the Celtics do not have to give up on Robinson entirely, but the roles should change if this keeps up. Robinson signed a three-year, $47 million deal in the offseason, but Boston is not in the business of handing out minutes based on salary alone.
Garza has done the work. Robinson has not. And if the Celtics are serious about maximizing wins, Mazzulla may have to make the uncomfortable call and play the guy who is actually producing.
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