The Spurs add a foreign big man in an unsurprising move. Goga Bitadze has been rising of late, but concerns about his lateral quickness and defensive ceiling could drop him to San Antonio’s range on draft night. He’s an ideal fit on Gregg Popovich’s team.
Bitadze fits next to LaMarcus Aldridge on paper — a smart interior defender who moves well, can hit spot-up jumpers and plays with skill on offense. Bitadze was one of the most productive teenagers in the EuroLeague this past season, a difficult feat.
There are concerns about Bitadze’s ability to defend in space, but we’ve seen postseason teams find success without elite switch defenders at the five. Bitadze defends the rim, makes crisp rotations and knows where to position himself. He’ll find an NBA role.