The Orlando Magic are in the midst of a front-court roster shuffle during the 2026 NBA offseason with the departure of center Moritz Wagner to the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year, $19 million guaranteed contract.
Meanwhile, the Magic also went through a bit of cap gymnastics, waiving and re-signing forward Jonathan Isaac to a one-year veteran minimum contract, in addition to returning a familiar face to both Magic and Chicago Bulls fans in center Nikola Vucevic to Orlando on a one-year $3.9 million contract.
For what it’s worth, old Bulls pal Wendell Carter Jr. is under contract with the Magic through the 2028-29 NBA season (a team option), so he’s likely to be in Orlando for the long haul, barring trade.
That brings us to center Goga Bitadze, who is both well-liked by the Magic, to the extent that the Magic have shot down trade inquiries on the backup big during the 2026 NBA offseason, according to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscription required).
However, Bitadze’s salary mathematics in the apron era of the NBA may test the resolve of the Magic front office to retain Bitadze, as he enters the 2026-27 NBA season on a $7.6 million expiring contract. The Magic also reside $2.5 million away from the second apron threshold, according to Spotrac.
If the Magic can’t reset their roster to retain Bitadze, then the Bulls should promptly find an avenue to make Chicago Bitadze’s next NBA home.
Better call Bitadze
The majority of Bitadze’s seven-year NBA career has been played in bench rotational roles, although he did reach a career high in regular season game starts with 42 games started in the 2024-25 NBA regular season.
If the Bulls were to acquire Bitadze, he should get a fair shot at a starting center role, with the 2026-27 NBA season representing his age 27 season.
Over his entire NBA career, Bitadze has been productive as a backup big. Projecting his career averages to a starter's workload, Bitadze holds career averages of 13.9 points per 36 minutes, 10.6 rebounds per 36 minutes, 2.6 blocks per 36 minutes, and 1.1 steals per 36 minutes, according to Basketball Reference.
Bitadze is a traditional big from a shooting standpoint. Of his 8.3 career field goal attempts per 36 minutes, only 1.8 of those field goal attempts come from three-point range.
However, Bitadze is efficient in finishing his shots, shooting 62.3% from the field in his four seasons with the Magic. Overall, the Bulls would earn a solid frontcourt pickup if they find a way to acquire Goga Bitadze.
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