Heading into the offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have a lot of moves they must make in order to set the team up for a huge comeuppance next season after a disastrous campaign. Changes and additions need to come around yet again, lest the squad will remain on the outside, looking in, with nearly all of their contemporaries having already fortified their rosters.
Aside from the 2025 NBA Draft, which stands to be their most eventful segment yet, the 76ers need to move with rapid precision once free agency opens. Sure, the front office is actually shackled this time and precluded from pursuing landmark additions, but there remains a good range of options awaiting them in the open market.
Expected to be among the front office’s biggest priorities is shoring up the team’s depth at center, which remained shallow this season. With Joel Embiid still a gigantic question mark heading into next season, the 76ers need better options to hold down the fort when need be, especially with Andre Drummond expected to be moved, Adem Bona still being a raw contributor, and Guerschon Yabusele pegged as a legitimate flight risk.
Speaking of options, there is one player who should instantly pique their interest — Goga Bitadze.
The 76ers should unquestionably target Goga Bitadze in free agency
Bitadze turned in his best individual season yet this year for the Orlando Magic. In 20.4 minutes of game play on the average, he turned in 7.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, two assists and 1.4 blocks per outing while draining a career-best 61.1 percent of his field goal attempts.
Still, the 25-year-old’s most impressive feat this season can be discerned beyond what the numbers show. According to BBall Index, Bitadze is one of only six players this season to finish in the Top 30 in both rim protection and defensive rebounding talent. The other ones? Three All-Stars in Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis, and Jarrett Allen, and two defensive menaces in Ivica Zubac and Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Georgian center should immediately be one of the top entries on the free agency whiteboard for the 76ers. The numbers don’t lie. Even in his relatively limited role, he has made huge strides as a defensive anchor and board-crasher — two areas Philly badly needs to address.
The 76ers were the worst rebounding team this season. Also they were 23rd in blocks per game, while also ranking 22nd when it comes to defending the paint. Clearly, Bitadze would be a much-needed addition for the squad.
Depending on the price tag he commands, the Philadelphia 76ers should make a huge play on Goga Bitadze. It simply makes too much sense not to. Even better, give his age, he could be the breath of fresh air the team needs in the front court without being an unproven commodity.