The Boston Celtics certainly aren’t expected to contend for a championship this season, marking the first time that the Celtics aren’t pushing for a title in nearly a decade. Jayson Tatum is recovering from a torn Achilles, and Boston’s roster was absolutely dismantled over the summer, one year after hanging another banner.
Still, Boston would probably like to fill some holes this season, and the most prominent need for the Celtics definitely lies in their frontcourt.
Boston traded Kristaps Porzingis and lost both Al Horford and Luke Kornet to free agency, leaving the C’s with Neemias Queta, Chris Boucher and not a whole lot else up front.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has identified a potential solution for the Celtics in that regard, linking them to Orlando Magic big man Goga Bitadze.
“Bitadze is one of the most underrated players in the NBA, part of a center rotation with the Orlando Magic who have helped anchor one of the league’s best defenses,” Swartz wrote. “Per 36 minutes, the 26-year-old averaged 12.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.5 blocks while shooting 61.1 percent from the field last year. His team-friendly contract clocks in at $8.3 million this season and actually drops to $7.6 million in 2026-27.”
Of course, whether or not the Magic - who lost to the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last spring - would be interested in moving Bitadze is another story.
As Swartz noted, the 26-year-old is on a very team-friendly deal, and given that he is under wraps through 2027, Orlando absolutely does not have to move him any time soon.
Bitadze owns lifetime averages of 5.4 points and 4.1 boards over 14.5 minutes per game while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor. He has certainly seen an uptick in playing time the last couple of years and would absolutely get significant run in Boston.
But again, the chances of the Magic trading Bitzade seem slim at this point. If they somehow fall out of playoff contention midseason, then maybe the C’s would have a shot of acquiring him.
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