The Orlando Magic's trash could prove to be the Los Angeles Lakers' treasure, if they were to take Goga Bitadze off their hands. The potential trade should not be one that breaks the bank for Rob Pelinka either.
Bitadze's name surfaced on the Game Theory Podcast when Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon discussed the best underrated NBA trade targets. Vecenie was unafraid of singing the praises for the Georgian big man.
"He's a borderline starting center in the NBA," Vecenie said. "He's really good on defense. He's on an amazing contract at like $8 million a year for the next two years, descending down to $7.6 million in 2026-27. ... Goga is such a prime target. ... He would make a ton of sense for [the Lakers]."
There is a ton of truth to the last statement made above. Bitadze would be an ideal trade candidate for Pelinka and the front office for a number of reasons.
Goga Bitadze offers Lakers rare chance at high impact for low cost
Vecenie discussed the overflowing options in Orlando potentially resulting in Bitadze being the odd man out. Wendell Carter, Moritz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, and even Paolo Banchero should be expected to eat up minutes at the five.
There is no better example of Bitadze's risk of being shunned than the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Despite starting 42 games for the Magic in the 2024-25 regular season, the 26-year-old center only appeared in three games, averaging 3.7 minutes during this contests. There was no room for him.
This felt like an odd choice considering how much the advanced numbers love Bitadze. Everything that one can find screams impactful player.
Goga Bitadze with a ridiculous rejection on the Lavine dunk attempt.
Lavine even gives Goga a high-five and says “Good block” pic.twitter.com/hQ5XUJo9IY
— The Magic Way (@MagicFilmRoom) November 28, 2024
Per 100 possessions, Bitadze posted an offensive rating of 127 and a defensive rating of 105. That was the highest offensive rating, and the second best defensive rating on the Magic.
Bitadze actually led Orlando in win shares during the 2024-25 season, posting 5.8 on the campaign to edge out Franz Wagner's 5.6 for the top spot. The Magic center similarly led the team in win shares per 48 minutes, averaging .195.
If Jamahl Mosley does not see the value in his big man, JJ Redick can certainly find it. A trade for Bitadze would give the Lakers some much-needed security.
If Deandre Ayton does not pan out in Los Angeles, the Lakers do not need to be overly reliant on their controversial starting center. Redick would also get a better backup option in the frontcourt than Jaxson Hayes.
Theoretically, the Lakers would not need much more than one of their expiring contracts and some sweetener to explore this deal. With such a low cost of entry, Pelinka has every reason to consider this option.