By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Georgian center Goga Bitadze will pen a three-year contract valued at 25 million dollars with the Orlando Magic.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the deal on Monday.
Bitadze, 24, will bounce back in the NBA following the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament with Georgia, instead of remaining an unrestricted free agent and considering his options for a potential return to Europe.
He spent the 2023-24 season with the Magic, putting up 4.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.5 steals per game over 64 appearances, including debuting in the Playoffs with two games played in the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team coached by Jamahl Mosley went to the wrong end of Game 7 and was knocked out by the Cavs in the opening round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel.
Following training camp with the senior national team of Georgia, Bitadze will represent his country in the OQT in Riga this week. In the preliminary round, his side faces host Latvia on Tuesday and the Philippines on Thursday. Among the six countries, including Brazil, Cameroon, and Montenegro, the top-ranked will join France, Germany, and Japan in Group B of the preliminary round of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Besides the Georgian center, the Magic are also bringing back fellow unrestricted free agent Gary Harris, signing him to a two-year, 14-million-dollar contract, according to Wojnarowski. Also, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is incoming from the Denver Nuggets, per Woj.
More activity in the free-agent market will likely spread to German Moritz Wagner. Orlando declined a team option but intends to retain the experienced forward as well.