Pistons Summer League: How Luka Garza can earn his roster spot

Detroit Pistons: Luka Garza could become Detroit’s future backup center

Garza’s place in Detroit will be on a two-way contract in 2020-21. It comes as no surprise for a late second-round pick.

Detroit has a lot of depth in their frontcourt right now. At the center position, the Pistons have their starter in Isaiah Stewart and their reserves in Kelly Olynyk and Jahlil Okafor. Garza does not really fit into Detroit’s 15 man roster quite yet.

The big man will have plenty of opportunities to develop his game with the Pistons’ G-League affiliate the Motor City Cruise. With the Cruise, Garza can continue to work on his three-point shot and build his body for the rigors of the NBA season.

When the young prospect is brought up to the Pistons roster for a game or two, he will have the opportunity to take his development in the G-League and apply it at the NBA level. The big man will benefit greatly from a year in the G-League, and he could be ready to fill a full-time NBA roster spot by his sophomore season.

By his second year in the league rolls around, Okafor’s contract with Detroit will have expired. Garza will have the opportunity to compete for the roster spot formerly occupied by Okafor.

In that time it is entirely plausible that Garza still splits his time between the G-League and the Pistons. Olynyk will still garner the backup center minutes behind Stewart, so it would be wise for the Pistons to give Garza playing time with the Cruise in the meantime.

By year three, Olynyk’s contract will have only $3 million guaranteed, and the veteran big man’s contract would be a primary option to waive in order to clear cap space. It is year three where Garza would truly have his chance to earn the backup center spot behind Stewart. This opportunity only comes if Garza continues to develop into an NBA-caliber center.

Garza will still have his limitations due to his below-average lateral quickness. The potential for him to be exposed if he is forced to switch onto guards at the perimeter is ever-present. But the hope is that the big man will be able to develop well enough to reduce these limitations on his game.

In the end, what will really put Garza onto an NBA roster is his three-point shooting. Stretchability is a coveted trait in modern NBA big men. If Garza can shoot well from beyond the arc in his NBA career, he will find it much easier to stick around in this league.

As Garza goes through the growing pains of a young center in the NBA, his three-point shot will always be an aspect of his game he can lean on.