The Boston Celtics currently don’t have a center on the roster that fits their offensive 3-point shooting scheme.

After trading Kristaps Porzingis, losing Luke Kornet in free agency, and with Al Horford likely set to sign with another team, the Celtics haven’t yet added a big man that can replace the production lost from their top three centers from just last year.

Since then, Boston signed Luka Garza and drafted Amari Williams to join Neemias Queta, who’s likely the de facto starting center to start the season as it currently stands. Xavier Tillman can also be linked to this group as well.

The thing that’s concerning is that none of these guys shoot threes and that’s a huge part of the C’s offensive scheme, even for the big men.

Career 3-point percentage for the Celtics centers:

• Garza: 31.4%
• Tillman: 25.2%
• Queta: 0%
• Williams: 25.0% at Kentucky in 2024-25

With the way Boston’s offseason has unfolded, I have to imagine that the initial plan is for Garza to improve from behind the arc. Unless the Celtics are going to change their offensive scheme, they need a big man to shoot threes. 

In his four year career, Garza has never attempted 50 threes or made more than 16 in a season. Last season, he went 10-of-36 (27.8%) from behind the arc on less than one attempt per game (0.9).

It’s worth mentioning that when the Celtics traded for Derrick White, he was shooting 31.4 percent on 3-pointers, which is what Garza is averaging for his career after four years. White has transformed into one of the top 3-point shooters on the team and in the NBA during his time with the Celtics.

The thing about Garza is that he has a smooth shooting motion, but he typically doesn’t attempt it unless he’s left wide open. He’s not really a finesse shooter from behind the arc that can create a shot opportunity for himself.

For Garza and the Celtics to be successful, it’ll be essential for him to improve in pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop situations. Garza knows there will be plenty of opportunities in Boston’s frontcourt and it’s why he signed with the Celtics. 

“Obviously there’s a lot of opportunity, especially in the frontcourt and with the guys that we have. I think the front office and the coaches believe in me and what I can do, so I just saw that as really good for me at this stage in my career.”

Garza signed a two-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $5.5 million. GM Brad Stevens says that he’s looking for players to sign on lower level contracts that display hard work and competitiveness. He believes that Garza can be an impactful player in Boston.

“We’re looking for guys on those contracts that have upside, that are competitors, that are workers, that want to be good, that haven’t hit their peak yet- but we’ve seen something in them that we think gives them a chance to be impactful. Luka has obviously been a stats darling, but in limited time behind very, very good players.”

If Garza can become a more reliable shooter in a pick-and-pop situation, his offensive game will be a nice addition for the Celtics. It’s his defensive game that will be troubling for him in Boston as he’s not built for a switching style.

That said, switching is a concept the Celtics have had success implementing to their new players. So I have to trust that Garza (6’10”, 243 lbs.) will become a better defender by being on the Celtics.

It doesn’t seem likely for Joe Mazzulla to change his philosophy this season, so Garza is going to have to prove he can align with Mazzulla’s system in Boston.

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Photo Credit: John Tlumacki, The Boston Globe, Getty Images