NBA Mock Draft 2021: Luka Garza

With the 2021 NBA Draft just around the corner, here’s a look at one of the top prospects center Luka Garza.

Garza, a native of Washington, D.C., played his college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes He was a two-time consensus first-team All-American and won the John R. Wooden Award as the nation’s top player in 2020.

Standing at 6-foot-11, Garza is a skilled big man who can score both inside and out. He’s an excellent shooter from three-point range and is also a good rebounder and defender.

There have been some concerns about Garza’s durability, as he missed time during his college career with injuries, but if he can stay healthy, he has the potential to be a very good NBA player

Most mock drafts have Garza going in the late first round or early second round, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go higher than that on draft night.

The Case for Luka Garza as the Number One Pick

Since Luke Kennard was drafted in 2017, the Detroit Pistons have been searching for a player that can provide some stability on the offensive end of the floor. In recent years the team has drafted players like Killian Hayes and Saddiq Bey with the hope that they would develop into this type of player, but both prospects have failed to make a significant impact thus far. This leaves the Pistons in a difficult position heading into the 2021 NBA Draft They don’t have a clear-cut number one pick, and it’s possible that no player in this year’s class has the potential to develop into an All-Star caliber player.

With that being said, there is one player in this year’s class who I believe has the potential to be a very good player in the NBA, and that is Iowa center Luka Garza.

Garza is a 6’11” center who is averaging 24.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game for Iowa this season. He is an excellent scorer around the basket and has shown the ability to score from both inside and outside the paint. He is also a very good rebounder, especially on the offensive end of the floor where he is averaging 3.5 offensive rebounds per game

What makes Garza an intriguing prospect is his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting. He is shooting 41% from three-point range this season and has shown that he can knock down shots from beyond the arc with consistency. This will be a valuable skill in today’s NBA where more and more teams are looking for players who can space the floor and open up driving lanes for their perimeter players

In addition to his shooting, Garza is also a very good passer for a big man. He averages 2 assists per game and has shown that he can find open teammates with ease when he draws double-teams in the post. This passing ability will be crucial for him at the next level where he will likely see increaseddouble-teams due to his lack of elite athleticism.

The biggest concern with Garza is his lack of athleticism which could limit his impact on the defensive end of the floor at the next level. He also doesn’t have great length, which could make it difficult for him to protectthe rim against taller and more athletic centers in the NBA.

Overall, I believe Garza has All-Star potential as long as he can overcome these concerns and develop into a more well-rounded player on both ends of the floor. With his size, shooting ability, and passing skills, I believe he has all ofthe tools necessary to succeed at the next level and should be considered as a potential number one pick in this year’s Draft Class .

Why Luka Garza Deserves to be a Top-5 Pick

NBA scouts and analysts have been drooling over Iowa star center Luka Garza for months now. The 6-foot-11 big man is one of the most skilled and efficient scorers in college basketball and he’s shown an improved ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor this season.

There’s no doubt that Garza has a chance to be a very good NBA player But where will he land in the 2021 NBA draft?

Some mock drafts have Garza going as high as No. 4 overall to the Chicago Bulls while others have him falling out of the lottery entirely.

Here’s a look at why Garza deserves to be a top-5 pick in the 2021 NBA draft

The Case Against Luka Garza as the Number One Pick

The 2021 NBA Mock Draft is always fun to speculate about, and there are a lot of talented players eligible this year. However, there is one player who is being talked about as the number one pick, and that is Luka Garza of the Iowa Hawkeyes While Garza is a talented player, there are some valid concerns about him as a potential number one pick.

Garza is undersized for an NBA center at just 6’11”. He compensates for this with a 7’4” wingspan, but that may not be enough against NBA big men He also relies too much on his jump shot and while he is a good shooter, he may not be able to get his shot off against NBA defenders.

There are also questions about his defense. He is not a great shot blocker, and while he is a good rebounder, he may not be able to handle the physicality of the NBA. These concerns could mean that Garza is not ready to be the number one pick in the 2021 NBA Mock Draft

Why Luka Garza is Overrated

There has been a recent trend of big men who can shoot being drafted high in the NBA. Luka Garza fits that bill, as he is a 6’11” center who shot 41.8% from three-point range this season. However, Garza is not the best prospect in this year’s draft and he is being overrated by many.

The biggest issue with Garza is his defense. He is not quick enough to defend the pick-and-roll and he does not have the length to be a rim protector. This was exposed in the NCAA tournament as he had trouble guarding Drew Timme of Gonzaga and Osasere Ighodaro of Oral Roberts Garza will not be able to defend Centers or power forwards in the NBA and that will limit his minutes.

Another problem with Garza is his rebounding. For a player his size, he should be averaging more than 8 rebounds per game. His lack of strength was exposed against Iowa State as he only had 3 rebounds in 27 minutes. In the NBA, Garza will be playing against bigger and stronger players and he will struggle to rebound against them.

The final issue with Garza is his athleticism. He is not a good leaper and he does not have great speed or quickness. This was evident in the NCAA Tournament as he had trouble finishing around the basket against Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert In the NBA, Garza will struggle to score against athletically superior defenders.

Luka Garza is a good player but he has significant flaws that make him overrated as a prospect. He will struggle to defend and rebound in the NBA and his lack of athleticism will limit his ability to score against superior athletes.

Why Luka Garza is Underrated

Luka Garza is one of the most dominant college basketball players in recent memory. The 6’11” center from Iowa was a two-time consensus All-American, won the 2020 Smith College Player of the Year Award and led the Hawkeyes to a 20-11 record this season. Despite all of his accomplishments, Garza is often left out of the conversation when it comes to Top NBA Prospects

One reason for this is that Garza played in the Big Ten which is not known for being a hotbed for NBA talent. In fact, only two players from the Big Ten have been drafted in the last two years: Carsen Edwards (Boston Celtics) and Ignas Brazdeikis (New York Knicks). Furthermore, Garza is 22 years old, which is relatively old for a player who will be entering the NBA draft

However, Garza has all of the tools to be a successful NBA player He has fantastic footwork for a big man, allowing him to score in the post with ease. He also has a great outside shot, as he shot 41.8% from three-point range this season. Garza is an incredible rebounder, averaging 10.5 rebounds per game this season. He also averaged 24 points per game while playing against some of the best competition in College Basketball

The bottom line is that Luka Garza is a very underrated prospect who has all of the skills to be successful at the next level. He may not get drafted as high as some other prospects, but he has the potential to be a very good player in the NBA.

The Darkhorse Case for Luka Garza

It’s time to start taking the 2021 NBA Draft seriously, and that means it’s time to start making some bold predictions. One of the boldest predictions we can make at this point is that Iowa center Luka Garza will be a first-round pick in next year’s draft.

Here’s why: Garza is one of the most productive players in College Basketball and he’s done it against some of the best competition in the country. In 31 games against Division I opponents this season, Garza averaged 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 54.2% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range. He was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, and he finished fourth in the voting for the Naismith Award, which goes to the nation’s Top Player

So why isn’t Garza getting more attention as a potential first-round pick? Part of it may be because he’s 22 years old and playing in a power conference, so he doesn’t have the same “upside” as some of the other prospects in his class. But we think Garza has plenty of upside left; he just keeps getting better and better every year, and there’s no reason to think that trend won’t continue at the next level.

In an NBA Mock Draft on ESPN.com, writer Jonathan Givony has Garza going 28th overall to the Los Angeles Lakers. We think that’s too low; we wouldn’t be surprised if Garza ended up being a lottery pick next June.

How Luka Garza Can Improve His Draft Stock

Many mock drafts have been released for the 2021 NBA Draft and most of them have Luka Garza as a first-round pick. Garza is one of the best players in college basketball and he has the potential to be a very good player in the NBA. However, there are some things that Garza can do to improve his stock before the draft.

Garza is listed at 7’0″, but he might be closer to 6’11”. This is not a big deal, but it is something that Garza can improve. He can also improve his shot selection and become a better shooter from three-point range. Garza has all of the tools to be a great NBA Player but he needs to continue to work on his game.

What NBA scouts are Saying About Luka Garza

Luka Garza is one of the most dominant College Basketball Players in recent memory. The Iowa Hawkeyes star has been a consistent force on both ends of the floor, and his impact was evident from the moment he stepped on the court as a freshman.

Now, as he prepares to enter the 2021 NBA Draft scouts are taking notice of his unique skill set and praising his potential at the next level. Let’s take a look at what some of them are saying about Garza:

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Luka Garza is going to be a very good NBA player He’s got all the tools you look for in a big man: he can score inside and out, he’s an excellent rebounder, and he’s a good shot blocker. He also has a High Basketball IQ and knows how to play within himself. I think he has all the makings of a productive NBA center ”

“Luka Garza is one of the most skilled big men I’ve seen in college basketball in a long time. He can score in so many ways and always seems to be around the ball on both ends of the court. He’s also an excellent free throw shooter for his size. I think he has a chance to be a very special player at the next level.”

“I love Luka Garza’s game. He’s so versatile offensively and does such a great job of using his size to his advantage. He also has a high motor and is always battling for position on both ends of the court. I think he has all the tools to be a very successful NBA Player ”

Luka Garza’s Mock Draft History

Luka Garza was a highly touted prospect coming into the 2021 NBA draft He was projected to be a lottery pick by most experts and was even considered a possible top-10 pick by some. However, Garza fell to the 14th pick in the draft, where he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets

NBA Mock Draft 2021: Luka Garza