Hunter
08/17/21
Luka Garza’s path to the NBA has gotten a little closer.
Media reports say that the former Hawkeye has signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons. The deal was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Two-way contracts allow a player to play for both the NBA and the G League while being under the control of an NBA franchise for the duration of that season. These contracts are limited to two per team.
Fan site Detroit Bad Boys dot com said that Garza tirelessly worked on expanding his game with an effective 3-point shot and has left every bit on the floor for the Pistons during Summer League.
Garza has averaged 15 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1 block per game for the Pistons in their five Summer League games. Last night in a 79-78 win over the Orlando Magic, Garza started and played nearly 27 minutes, scoring 21 points and pulling down 15 rebounds.
The site reports that Garza will likely spend a lot of time with the Motor City Cruise while also providing big man depth. The Pistons previously signed undrafted rookie forward Chris Smith to a two-way deal so they will not be able to offer any additional deals.
Another former Hawkeye, roster veteran Tyler Cook, is listed as another player the Pistons might want to retain for the upcoming season. They finished 3-2 in the Summer League, which plays its final games today.