Magic Keeping Goga Bitadze; Backup Center Next Season?

The Orlando Magic have picked up a $2 million option for Goga Bitadze ahead of free agency.

Jeremy Brener | Jun 29, 2023

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic is set welcoming back a familiar face.

The team announced Thursday that Goga Bitadze's team option would be picked up. The Magic also declined the options for veteran point guard Michael Carter-Williams and defensive wing Admiral Schofield.

After signing with the team in February, Bitadze played in 17 games and averaged 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He took over Mo Bamba's spot in the rotation after he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and was serviceable. At just 23 years old, Bitadze is still developing and could have an impact for the team next season if he stays aboard.

The decision likely hingd on what the Magic did in the NBA Draft last week. Given the fact that Orlando had two lottery picks, the Magic could have taken a center that could eclipse Bitadze's role in the rotation. However, the Magic opted not to take a center, meaning Bitadze's chances of remaining on the roster will increase.

The team could still look into signing a center better than Bitadze to backup Wendell Carter Jr.

Moe Wagner is a likely candidate to be re-signed, while the likes of Drew Eubanks (Portland Trail Blazers) or Thomas Bryant (Denver Nuggets) also make sense for the team to sign.

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Published Jun 29, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.