Celtics' depth chart decisions with Josh Minott, Luka Garza will impact lineup success

The Boston Celtics could approach things differently this season.

With no Jayson Tatum (Achilles), the entire depth chart in Boston looks just a little bit different.

That includes the names in the bottom half of the roster, guys who might ordinarily not play a ton but who now could try to push themselves into the picture.

Guys, in this case, like Josh Minott and Luka Garza.

Minott has been with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he didn't really get any chances, but he's still just 22 years old.

"I was high on Minott coming out of Memphis, but he’s spent the last three years marooned at the end of the Minnesota bench while a deep, veteran team chased the top seeds in the West," writes The Athletic's John Hollinger. "With a move to Boston, that will not be the case. The one player definitely ahead of him on the depth chart at power forward (Sam Hauser) might end up being traded at some point to get the Celtics under the luxury tax, and the overall depth situation virtually requires Minott to play if he can demonstrate any rotation-level ability at all."

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Garza is the former star from Iowa, a center with an old-school, back-to-the-basket kind of game.

Oddly, Garza has the best points per minute average in NBA playoff history when you make the minutes minimum 30 minutes.

The 6-foot-11 Garza has only been a bench warmer in his NBA career. But the Celtics got rid of Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet.

Neemias Queta will start at center, and Xavier Tillman is around, but Garza could see the floor.

The Celtics haven't made their plans for these two new faces perfectly clear. But they'll probably get a chance at some point to show whether they deserve a real opportunity to break through and stick around.

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