Bitadze finished Wednesday's 121-111 loss to Cleveland with six points (3-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 0-1 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one block over 25 minutes.
Bitadze didn't offer much in the loss, continuing his recent mediocrity. Although he has been a starter for over a month, he is barely inside the top 120 in standard leagues over that time. Unless fantasy managers are desperate for blocks and rebounds, there are likely better options available on many of waiver wires.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Blocks five shots in victory
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Bitadze chipped in five points (2-6 FG, 1-4 FT), seven rebounds, six assists, five blocks and two steals over 31 minutes during Tuesday's 126-107 win over Toronto.
Bitadze racked up seven combined steals and blocks while sneakily handing out a season-high six assists. Although his offensive game is limited, he has been able to do just enough in the other categories to maintain 12-team relevance. However, Wendell Carter (hand) is due back shortly, something that will eliminate any value for Bitadze. For now, Bitadze should be viewed as a defensive streamer who can provide decent numbers in the rebounds column.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Double-doubles in win
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Bitadze chipped in 15 points (6-10 FG, 3-4 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals across 26 minutes during Wednesday's 96-94 victory over the Bulls.
Bitadze's season-high 11 rebounds helped him record his second double-double of the season. The 24-year-old center has consistently produced defensively since being inserted into the starting lineup, averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.3 rebounds across his last six appearances. Bitadze should continue to see an enhanced role with Wendell Carter (hand) out for multiple weeks.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Efficient against Brooklyn
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Bitadze supplied 14 points (6-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, one assist and two steals over 24 minutes during Tuesday's 124-104 loss to Brooklyn.
Bitadze has been part of the starting lineup over the past five matchups with Wendell Carter (finger) sidelined. Although Bitadze has seen consistent minutes in his new role, he's been an unreliable contributor, as he's been held to single-digit scoring totals in two of his starts. However, he's recorded multiple steals in three of those matchups and has totaled eight blocks. Since taking on a starting role, he's averaged 9.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game. While Carter is set to miss multiple weeks, Bitadze will likely have to perform more consistently if he hopes to retain a relatively sizable role upon Carter's return.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Productive once again
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Bitadze notched 12 points (5-7 FG, 2-4 FT), five rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes during Thursday's 120-119 loss to Atlanta.
Bitadze has been starting with Wendell Carter (finger) sidelined for the foreseeable future and has played well in this new temporary role. The big man has scored in double digits in two of his three outings as a starter while grabbing at least five rebounds each time. He's averaging 23.0 minutes per game in a starting role and figures to remain as such while Carter is out.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Rises to occasion
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Bitadze supplied 10 points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and five blocks across 26 minutes during Saturday's 120-101 victory over the Lakers.
Orlando opted to start Bitadze while keeping Moritz Wagner in his role with the second unit amid Wendell Carter's (finger) surgery. Bitadze and Wagner bring similar passing skills to Orlando's offense and should help enable Orlando's key contributors in cuts and on on the perimeter. Bitadze's largest sample size is 13.6 minutes per game across 95 appearances with the Pacers in 2020-21 and 2021-22, which yielded 6.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Gets starting nod
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Bitadze is in the starting five for Saturday's game versus the Lakers.
Bitadze will replace Wendell Carter (finger) in the starting lineup Saturday. Bitadze will get his first real run of the season, as he has yet to play more than five minutes across any of his three appearances in 2023-24.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Scores seven off bench
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Bitadze amassed seven points (2-2 FG, 3-4 FT), three rebounds and one steal across five minutes during Wednesday's 116-86 victory over the Rockets.
Although Bitadze's playing time was limited Wednesday, he had an efficient performance off the bench during the blowout win. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game over 38 appearances between the Pacers and Magic last year, and it seems unlikely that he'll have a prominent role during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Team option exercised
Rotowire
Bitadze's $2.07 million team option was exercised by the Magic on Thursday.
Bitadze had a limited role with the Pacers early in the 2022-23 campaign, but his role picked up over 17 appearances with Orlando down the stretch. After signing with his new team, he averaged 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game, and he'll attempt to build upon his success during the 2023-24 season.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Moves to bench Sunday
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Bitadze is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Heat, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Bitadze made a spot start Friday against the Nets, but he'll return to his regular bench role with Wendell Carter (hip) moving to the first unit. Bitadze is averaging 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game this season while appearing off the bench in all but one of his 37 outings.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Grabs 15 boards in loss
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Bitadze closed with 12 points (5-7 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 15 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 25 minutes during Friday's 101-84 loss to Brooklyn.
The Magic rested several starters, allowing Bitadze to see a more significant role than usual. The big man took full advantage of the opportunity while tying a season-high mark in boards. Bitadze could find himself in the starting lineup for the regular-season finale Sunday at Miami, given the Magic has nothing to play for anymore.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Gets starting nod
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Bitadze is in the starting five for Friday's game versus the Nets.
Bitadze will replace Moritz Wagner (ankle) in the starting lineup Friday. Bitzadze will make his first start of the season for Orlando.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Scores 10 points in 16 minutes
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Bitadze notched 10 points (5-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt), six rebounds, one assist and one block in 16 minutes during Tuesday's 117-113 loss to the Cavaliers.
Bitadze played as the primary backup behind Wendell Carter, cobbling together another intriguing performance. It appears as though he has usurped Moritz Wagner in the pecking order, a move that should be noted by managers, even in 12-team formats. If he can see close to 20 minutes per game for the remainder of the season, there is possibly enough meat on the bone for him to be added down the stretch.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Productive in limited minutes
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Bitadze registered 13 points (5-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal in 13 minutes during Tuesday's 113-108 loss to the Grizzlies.
Bitadze played as the primary backup behind Wendell Carter, ending his night with an eye-popping line. While he can certainly be a viable fantasy asset at times, Bitadze's role is simply too unpredictable at this point. The fact that he played only six minutes in the Magic's previous game and has sat out three of the past nine games means that he shouldn't be viewed as much more than a situational streamer.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Near double-double off bench
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Bitadze finished with 12 points (6-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt), eight rebounds, two assists and one steal across 20 minutes during Tuesday's 134-123 loss to Milwaukee.
With Wendell Carter (hip) sidelined, Bitadze saw an expanded role and posted his best performance with his new team. It was his second-best outing of the season, behind only a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double he had while playing for the Pacers on Oct. 22. If Carter remains sidelined, Bitadze could continue to garner an increased role in Orlando's frontcourt, but his overall value remains limited as long as Moritz Wagner is operating as the starter.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Debuts with new team
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Bitadze chipped in six points (2-3 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds and one assist in nine minutes during Saturday's 121-108 loss to the Pacers.
In his Magic debut, Bitadze posted quality numbers in his limited time off the bench, but he may not be a regular factor in the rotation in most games. Orlando was without Jonathan Isaac (knee) on Saturday, which cleared the way for Bitadze to claim a spot on the second unit. Assuming Isaac is back in action Monday in New Orleans, Bitadze may struggle to see the court with Isaac and Moritz Wagner seemingly locked in as the Magic's top two frontcourt reserves.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Won't debut Tuesday
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Bitadze didn't travel with the Magic to Toronto and won't be available for Tuesday's game against the Raptors.
Less than an hour before their 100-91 win over the Bulls on Monday, the Magic announced the signing of Bitadze, who had been cut loose by Indiana last week. Since he's not yet with the Magic and hasn't taken part in a practice, Bitadze won't join the team until after the All-Star break. Once he gets a few practices under his belt and is cleared to make his Orlando debut, Bitadze is likely to fill the third-string center role that was vacated by Mo Bamba, whom the Magic traded to the Lakers last week.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Signing with Orlando
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Bitadze agreed to a contract with the Magic on Monday.
After recently being let go by the Pacers, Bitadze has quickly found a new home with the Magic. The fourth-year pro averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds across 9.6 minutes per game over his 21 appearances with Indiana this season. While Bitadze is not likely to be fantasy relevant for the remainder of the season, Orlando is a man down in their center rotation with Mo Bamba now on the Lakers. Bitazde figures to compete with Moritz Wagner for minutes off the bench moving forward.
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Pacers' Goga Bitadze: Available Monday
Rotowire
Bitadze (illness) is available for Monday's matchup against the Bucks.
Bitadze, who was initially listed as questionable, will suit up Monday after being a late scratch ahead of Saturday's loss to Memphis. However, it's unclear how much playing time he'll receive, as he's averaging just 9.9 minutes across 19 appearances this season.
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Pacers' Goga Bitadze: Considered questionable
Rotowire
Bitadze (illness) is questionable for Monday's matchup against Milwaukee.
Bitadze was a late scratch ahead of Saturday's matchup due to an illness and is in jeopardy of missing a second straight game. Myles Turner (back) is questionable as well, so if both big men remain sidelined, Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson would be candidates for increased roles again.
