The 2019 NBA Draft is tomorrow night, and the Charlotte Hornets should take a strong look at Georgian center Goga Bitadze, who recently worked out for the team.
The NBA Draft and Free Agency haven’t even started yet, but that hasn’t prevented the NBA world from going into full chaos mode. Charlotte Hornets fans are laser focused on who the team will be taking with the 12th overall pick tomorrow night, unless that pick ends up being traded, of course.
One player who could be in play for the Hornets at 12th overall is Goga Bitadze, a center from the Republic of Georgia. Bitadze worked out for the Hornets yesterday and was able to showcase his ability to stretch the floor and hit shots from the perimeter.
Bitadze projects to be a modern-day big man in the NBA. He can hit the three-point shot, protect the rim and rebound the ball. He has a great feel for the game for a guy his age (19 years old) and could help the Hornets right away.
About Goga Bitadze:
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 250 pounds
Wingspan: 7’2″
2018-19 stats: 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 55% FG, 31% 3PT.
Strengths:
- Can score from inside and outside
- Good body with promising physical attributes
- Active defensively
- Two-Way potential
Weaknesses:
- Not a great athlete
- Poor decision making at times
Bitadze has gone a bit under-the-radar at this point, but is showing teams what he can do late in the draft process. He could definitely sneak into the back end of the lottery tomorrow night thanks to his promising ability on both ends of the court.
The Hornets could absolutely look at a front court player during the draft. It’s clear that they need another young big man, and Bitadze is one of the best options at center in this draft. Jaxson Hayes and Mfiondu Kabengele could also be options for Charlotte if they were to look for a big.
Bitadze is really intriguing thanks to his shooting and shot blocking ability. Those are two things that you want from your big man in today’s NBA, and while he will need some work in order to develop defensively and skill wise on the perimeter, the upside is clearly evident.
He’s also a physical presence down in the paint. Bitadze has gotten a lot stronger over the years and likes to play bully ball in the post. He’ll need to adjust to finishing around length in the NBA, but he’s got a nice touch and nice fundamentals close to the basket.
There have been just six players from Georgia that have played in the NBA, and the only active player from Georgia is Detroit’s Zaza Pachulia. Getting drafted into the NBA, likely in the first round at that, will be a great accomplishment for Bitadze and his country.
Bitadze may not be the most popular prospect in this years draft, but I think he is someone that can certainly help the Charlotte Hornets and could be a very good player in the future. We will see where he ends up tomorrow night, but Charlotte could very well be an option for him.