Zurab Talakvadze

Where will Goga Bitadze go?

Goga Bitadze is having an up and down season fro Orlando Magic. The pivot for Georgian National team is having a solid season… when playing! Otherwise, Goga is benched and still waiting for his chance to perform well.

His stats (5.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, team leading 1.2 blocked shots and 1.1 dimes) are solid for a player, who is in the shadows of other bigs from Magic, or when Magic is resting Wendel l Carter Junior, coaches trust the others more and more. Goga is looking for a second chance, that rarely comes.

The team is looking for a possible trade for BItadze, but the problem is, Magic value him highly and is asking for a lot in order for other teams to take him. Goga is still under contract next season for just under 8 million, so he is on a bargain deal for most of the teams. But the Magic do not give him away for nothing.

To get Goga, a very good defensive center with some crafty touch, you have to give the Magic a first-round pick, that might sound too high for a potential suitor.

The word was that The Toronto Raprors and San Antonio Spurs were among his potential suitors, but the deal never happened. A team like Lakers and Bulls might also make a sense for BItadze, because both teams need a center, but the asking price was too high.

The Magic are having a roller-coaster season so far. The team is still fighting for a place among East’s elite, but they are not gaining a ground in the standings. With 30:26 they currently sit at number 7 in the standings and trail the sixth placed Sixers only by a single win. They improved on offence and get better defensive stops, but they still got beaten in some games they should have won.

All in all, this does not mean, that the Magic won’t trade Goga. They might lower the asking price too. We have to wait. This trade won’t happen this season, as Goga will look for another chance from the bosses.

Goga is still a very solid player with a lot of pop and needs to catapult himself to another level if given an extra chance.