Is Goga Bitadze the analytics darling the Lakers need at center?

If the Lakers opt to address their need at center in the aggregate, a big like Goga Bitadze could be a viable piece.

With the need for a center being the big, looming question over the summer for the Lakers, we’ll be taking a look at a number of potential targets, both via free agency or trade. Today, we continue with Magic big man Goga Bitadze.

While many agree that the most pressing need for the Lakers is improving their center play, there remains debate on how they should do so.

Acquiring a starting caliber big would go a long way in solving the problem, but with limited assets at their disposal and polarizing names on the market, the opportunity cost may prove too steep.

The other route the team may take then is to embrace a center-by-committee approach. Although the less sexy option, addressing their need in the aggregate could yield similar value and more flexibility on and off the court if they target the right players.

One name that could fit the bill and potentially be available is Goga Bitadze.

After spending his first few seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Bitadze has since found his footing in Orlando. With more opportunity and playing time, Bitadze has quietly emerged as one of the best under-the-radar bigs in the NBA thanks to his hard-nosed play and impressive data.

Yet with little brand name power and time in a big market, he’s also the type of player the Lakers have recently overlooked. But should and will that change under new ownership?

How would he fit with the Lakers?

If the Lakers do opt for the depth route, they should view the center position from a skill-tree perspective rather than targeting individual talent.

In the most basic sense, the team needs to seek out: rim protection, rebounding, finishing around the rim (vertical and ground-bound), and switchability on both ends. Of course, other skills that would also be helpful, but this is a checklist they should start from.

With that strategy in mind, Bitadze could help shore up several of these areas.

After getting thrust into his largest role yet this past year, the center responded with career highs across the board for the Magic. And in the process, he flashed the type of skills that the Lakers desperately need.

Although he is not the dynamic lob threat that many have pined for on offense, he is capable and does enough of everything else to provide intriguing value.

Bitadze averaged a career-high in points per shot attempt and converted on 65.8% of his 2-point chances (84th percentile among bigs) this past season. While those are two strong numbers on their own, what makes them even more impressive is the context behind them.

On a lowly offensive team with little perimeter playmaking, only 64% of Bitadze’s 2-point makes came via an assist from a teammate. To put this in comparison, Jaxson Hayes relied on 85% of his buckets being served up for him.

Going from the level of passers he played with in Orlando to catching passes from the likes of Luka Dončić and LeBron James could unlock an even more efficient scorer.

Bitadze also flashed playmaking ability of his own. As one of the Magic’s primary dribble handoff bigs, the center showed solid feel and vision finding teammates in the half court (70th percentile in AST% among bigs). Although that might not be explored further on a team with the number of creators the Lakers have, it could be useful in the short roll, against switches or the instances Dončić is blitzed.

Arguably, Bitadze’s main value comes on the defensive end. As a product of playing in Indiana and Orlando, he’s got a case as one of the most underrated rim protectors in the NBA.

Since entering the league, Bitadze has finished in the 90th percentile or higher in block percentage in four of the last six seasons. With modest height and wingspan, Bitadze instead picks up his swats thanks to his mobility, timing and solid defensive awareness.

Bitadze’s frame also plays a big role in his defensive aptitude because, simply put, the dude is strong as hell. He’s hard to budge on the block (79th percentile defending post-ups) and is a handful on the glass on both ends (11.7 rebounds per 36 minutes). These are two traits the Lakers have sorely lacked from their non-Anthony Davis bigs in recent seasons.

Despite a laundry list of injuries and limitations on offense, the Magic still stayed afloat this year, largely thanks to their stout defense, an area Bitadze played a key role.

In the 2290 possessions he was on the floor, Orlando posted a defensive rating of just 110.1. That would have ranked third stingiest this year. If he could replicate similar results in Los Angeles, the Lakers should jump at the opportunity.

How much would the Lakers have to give up?

From a money-matching and asset perspective, Bitadze falls into a sweet spot if the front office wants to go bargain hunting.

The center is still on a team-friendly contract with two years left on his deal. He is set to earn roughly $8.3 million this upcoming season and just $7.6 million in 2026.

While it’s unlikely the Lakers will need to part ways with a first-rounder for Bitadze, they will still have to offer something of value to get the Magic to part ways with him.

Even after trading for Desmond Bane, Orlando will likely look to add more firepower to bolster their 30th-ranked 3-point% percentage. A deal centered around Dalton Knecht and cap filler could make sense for both sides.

Trading Knecht for Bitadze could be seen as selling low, but it is worth noting that despite being in the league since 2019, Bitadze is just a year older than Knecht and would still fall within Dončić’s timeline.

How realistic of a target is he?

Given his aforementioned age, production and steadiness, the Magic will not be actively looking to part ways with Bitadze. That said, they soon may be forced into some difficult decisions due to their bloated cap sheet and depth chart.

After adding Bane to the roster and with raises on the horizon for the young stars, the bill is set to be due in Orlando.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger recently laid out the predicament the Magic could find themselves in:

“Adding Bane’s salary to the 2025-26 cap doesn’t alter the math much; Orlando is likely to dip into the luxury tax and flirt with the first apron. However, a likely supermax for Banchero would put Orlando above the second apron in 2026-27 if he makes one of the All-NBA teams in 2025-26. The Magic have some outs between now and then with non-guarantees and team options, but this Jalen Suggs-Bane-Wagner-Banchero-Wendell Carter Jr. core is pretty locked in.”

While they have shown promise and look bound to make another leap in a depleted Eastern Conference this upcoming year, the threat of landing in the second apron likely will force the front office’s hand if they fall short in the postseason once again. As a result, the team could start to trim their books now to create some more wiggle room later.

The place they may start is in their bloated front court. With several notable power forwards and centers on the roster already, a player like Bitadze could end up being a casualty of their roster crunch.

His fate could be decided by what the Magic chooses to do with former Laker, Mo Wagner. After suffering a season-ending ACL injury, Orlando must now decide whether or not to pick up Wagner’s $11 million team option. If they do exercise the option or re-sign him to a new deal, Bitadze could find himself as the odd man out. It is worth the reminder that Wagner is the brother of the team’s budding star, Franz.

If the Magic are fans of a player like Knecht or simply want to reduce their cap bill, Bitadze could be a realistic target. But it remains to be seen if the Lakers’ current front office expands their center pool vast enough to include under-the-radar players of Bitadze’s ilk.

Ironically, the combination of his versatility, strong numbers and cheap deal would make Bitadze the ideal target for Mark Walter’s other team in Los Angeles. The Lakers, on the other hand, have been antiquated in their approach to roster building.

New ownership won’t magically alter that mindset overnight. However, new voices in the room hopefully will at least lead to more creativity.

On his own, Bitadze will not solve the Lakers’ center problem. But combined with another player — or two — he could be a viable option that may be part of the solution.

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.