The Magic Insider

NBA Free Agency Rankings: Where's Magic Center Goga Bitadze?

Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze faces as uncertain summer as he tests the free agent market.

Jeremy Brener

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ORLANDO - Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze didn't play much after arriving late to the party in February. However, he made an impact that sparked hope within the team.

Now, Bitadze could face free agency this summer if the Magic declines his team option.

Should he become a free agent, The Athletic ranked Bitadze as the 17th-best center in this year's free agency class.

"Bitadze is a frustrating player because he has a good-looking shooting stroke and some athletic bounce to him, but he’s yet to convert that into a rotation-caliber player," The Athletic writes. "The long-range shooting hasn’t translated to games (25.1 percent career), and his pick-and-roll effectiveness is hurt by the fact that he might be the worst screener alive. Defensively, he can block shots, but fouls too much and can get lost in pick-and-roll coverage."

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.

If the Magic finds a better answer in free agency or the draft, which the team very well could, then Orlando may part ways with Bitadze for good. However, the Magic know what it has in him and also see how much he can grow with a little more time.

In this situation, the Magic plays the role of "Father Time" in deciding whether his flashes last season was too little too late for Bitadze or just enough to keep him on for a little longer.

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Jeremy Brener
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.

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