.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
The Boston Celtics increased their center depth by dealing for Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline, and so far, it's been a success. However, Vucevic is a free agent after this season, and it might not make sense to extend the 35-year-old veteran.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz believes so as well, and proposes the C’s make a trade over the offseason for an underrated big man: Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze.
The trade would look like this:
Celtics get: Goga Bitadze, 2026 second-round pick (projected No. 49 overall)
Magic get: 2026 first-round pick (projected No. 27 overall)
Nikola Vučević will be a free agent this summer and the Celtics will need another center to add to the rotation with Neemias Queta. With two players set to earn a combined $115 million next year, money will be an issue for Boston. Bitadze is one of the more underrated big men in the NBA. Primarily in a backup role for Orlando, the 26-year-old is averaging 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes of play. On a team-friendly $7.6 million contract next year, Bitadze would be a good rotation big at the cost of moving down about 20 spots overall in the draft,” Swartz wrote.
So far this season, Bitadze is averaging 5.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and one block in 15 minutes per game. However, his stats would more likely resemble his per 36 minutes numbers as he would see a significant increase in playing time as the backup center behind Neemias Queta.
He’d also only cost $7.6 million next season, as he finishes off a three-year, $25 million deal. And he does well, the Celtics could definitely afford an extension for him.
Hopefully the C’s think about this, and craft up a proposal to offer Orlando the second the offseason starts.
MORE NBA CONTENT
English (US)