Goga Bitadze heads to Orlando for a fresh start, signing with the Magic
Goga Bitadze heads to Orlando for a fresh start, signing with the Magic
Bitadze, the Pacers' top draft pick in 2019, didn't pan out in Indy. He's now on the move to Orlando.
Goga Bitadze is headed to the Sunshine State.
The former Pacers center signed with the Orlando Magic on Monday. This comes four days after he was waived by the Pacers to complete a four-team trade.
Afterward, Bitadze remained in Indy to work out and the Magic expressed interest. They waived guard Patrick Beverley and Terrence Ross on Sunday, clearing the way for them to add him for the rest of the season.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said he just missed Bitadze and wasn’t able to talk with him last week after the transaction, but they did communicate via text.
“On Goga’s next stop, he’s gonna do well,” Carlisle said. “He’s a player that’s improved. It was a tough spot for him because we ended up with a lot of guys at the 5 position. But he’s a very good player and I think he’ll do very well on his next stop.”
Bitadze was the Pacers' first-round pick in 2019, taken 18th overall. He was the second longest-tenured Pacer behind Myles Turner after the team experienced a lot of turnover over the past two seasons.