Magic Report Cards: Goga Bitadze Flashes Potential

The Orlando Magic saw some promise in Goga Bitadze in his first full season.

Jeremy Brener | May 15, 2024

Mar 21, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) warms up before the game / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic were one of the deepest teams in the league this season, and that became evident when Goga Bitadze was playing well early on.

Bitadze, 24, started 33 games for the Magic this season, mostly during the early part of the year when Wendell Carter Jr. suffered a hand injury that knocked him out for 20 games.

Bitadze made his impact moreso on the defensive end as a rim protector for the Magic, but once Carter came back into the lineup, the Georgian center faded back into the bench.

Bitadze is a free agent this summer, and there isn't a guarantee that he'll return to Orlando, but he would like to be back with the Magic.

"I got waived and these guys picked me up off of waivers," Bitadze said at exit interviews on May 6. "I didn't even know if I was going to stay in the league. I was already thinking about going back to Europe and these guys just took me in with open arms. This is the home [where] I want to be in. If it comes down to that and I'm still here, I would be really happy."

Bitadze proved this season that he belongs in the NBA, and he could have interest around the league. The Magic would like to bring him back, but they likely won't give him too much of his well-deserved raise given his role on the team.

Perhaps a rival may offer a bigger role with more money that will allow Bitadze to flash the potential he showed earlier in the year.

Grade: B-

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Published May 15, 2024

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.