The Orlando Magic emerged as a aggressive workforce by going 47-35 final season, ending fifth within the Japanese Convention and taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to a seventh recreation within the first spherical of the playoffs this previous season.
They made a big transfer as free company began by getting sharpshooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to conform to a take care of them, and whereas it received’t make them championship contenders, it’s an indication they’re certainly on the rise.
On Monday, Orlando made a transfer to keep up their frontcourt depth when it bought Goga Bitadze, a backup middle, to conform to a three-year deal to stay with them, per Adrian Wojnarowski.
Free agent middle Goga Bitadze is returning to the Orlando Magic on a three-year, $25 million contract, sources inform ESPN. pic.twitter.com/hUaR5HC17g
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2024
Bitadze isn’t a giant difference-maker, however he did common 5.0 factors, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocked photographs in 15.4 minutes a recreation this previous season.
The Magic are a workforce that’s largely constructed round their frontcourt, as Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 choose within the 2022 NBA Draft, grew to become an All-Star for the primary time this previous season, and 6-foot-10 ahead Franz Wagner averaged 19.7 factors a recreation.
They aren’t able to compete with the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks or Philadelphia 76ers for Japanese Convention supremacy, however one other playoff look throughout the 2024-25 season shouldn’t be out of the query.
Orlando may use a difference-making level guard who can each rating and facilitate, and it’s unknown how they might get their palms on such a participant.
They haven’t received a single playoff collection since 2010, once they went to the Japanese Convention Finals a 12 months after reaching the NBA Finals.
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