The Los Angeles Clippers have been working the phones. We know about the Kawhi Leonard trade talks that have dominated headlines, but that’s not the only deal they’ve tried to get off the ground. According to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of the Stein Line, the Clippers have had their eyes on Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze. And so far, the Magic aren’t interested in selling.
Word is that the Clippers are among the teams that have reached out about Bitadze. But Orlando has rebuffed those inquiries, and it sounds like they plan to keep him around. There’s a reason for that, too. The Magic are bracing for the likely departure of Moritz Wagner in unrestricted free agency, and they see Bitadze as part of the answer to that potential hole. Wagner, of course, is the brother of Franz Wagner, so his departure would be felt beyond just the stat sheet.
This puts the Clippers in an awkward spot. They already shipped Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, so they’re thin in the middle. Bitadze isn’t a star, but he’s a solid big who can defend the rim and clean up the boards — exactly the kind of piece a team in flux could use. But if Orlando stays firm, L.A. will have to look elsewhere.
The Numbers on Bitadze
Bitadze is coming off a 2025-26 campaign where he averaged 5.9 points, five rebounds and a block per game. Over 213 games with the Magic, those numbers sit at six points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He’s not gonna light up a box score, but he’s reliable. And in a league where rim protection and size still matter, that counts for something.
What This Means for Both Teams
For the Magic, they’re entering a new phase under head coach Sean Sweeney, and there’s going to be roster turnover. But it sounds like Bitadze is one of the guys they want to keep around, at least for now. For the Clippers, it’s back to the drawing board. They need a center, and they need one soon. Whether they circle back to Orlando or pivot to another trade target, the clock is ticking.
Both teams are still figuring out their ideal lineups for the 2026-27 season. As of right now, that means Bitadze stays put in Orlando.
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