The Lakers’ unbeaten start didn’t survive Tuesday night in Portland, and the 136-129 loss did more than just put a dent in the record. It also exposed a problem that could stick around if Los Angeles doesn’t address it soon: the frontcourt depth behind Walker Kessler.
Portland controlled the glass, 38-31, and beat the Lakers in the paint, 56-48. Kessler did his part with 13 points, eight rebounds, one steal and two blocks, while Donovan Clingan finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and one block.
But the bigger issue was obvious all night. Los Angeles doesn’t have a dependable backup center who can steady that rotation when the game gets physical.
Kevon Looney brings experience, but the Lakers clearly need more than that. They need a big who can hold up on the boards and contribute on a regular basis, which is why a trade with the Orlando Magic makes some sense.
The deal would send Jaden Hardy and a 2031 second-round pick to Orlando in exchange for Goga Bitadze.
Bitadze has been connected to the Lakers before, though obstacles had kept anything from happening. Now, with the Magic dealing with problems of their own, the path looks cleaner.
From a cap standpoint, this works for both sides. Los Angeles is already $8.1 million below the first apron, so taking on Bitadze’s $7.6 million contract would not be difficult. The Lakers could absorb it outright if they wanted to, though moving Hardy’s $6.0 million expiring deal would help preserve flexibility for later in the season.
Orlando’s position is workable as well. The Magic are roughly $2.5 million below the second apron, and because they would be sending out more money than they bring back, they could see value in cutting $1.6 million in salary.
The Magic’s injuries make the idea even more appealing. Paolo Banchero’s absence is already a major hit, and Jalen Suggs was then sidelined with a knee injury. Anthony Black is likely to move into the starting point guard role, but Orlando’s backcourt depth doesn’t look especially sturdy, and the roster also has to replace Banchero’s offense.
That’s where Hardy comes in. The 24-year-old has shown he can handle the ball and score in isolation, and while he won’t recreate Suggs’ defense or Banchero’s production, he could help keep the bench offense afloat. His numbers from last season - 9.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while shooting 42.4% from the field and 39.7% from three - show the kind of value he can bring off the second unit.
For the Lakers, Bitadze would be about solving a very specific problem. Even with Kessler in place, Los Angeles is still one of the league’s worst rebounding teams, ranking 29th in rebounding percentage at 45.2%. That’s the kind of weakness that shows up fast in games like the one in Portland.
Bitadze’s last season with Orlando gave a good picture of what he offers. In 64 games, he averaged 5.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in just 15.2 minutes per game. Those are useful numbers for a reserve, especially from a traditional big who can rebound and protect the rim in short bursts.
He also fits the job description offensively. Bitadze works as a pick-and-roll center and can finish inside, which would make him a natural fit as a backup center in L.A.’s rotation.
So do the Lakers need him? Maybe not specifically Bitadze, but they do need this type of player.
Los Angeles can sort through different looks at backup center - floor spacers, defensive specialists, lob threats - but the priority has to be rebounding. On nights when the offense stalls, the Lakers need someone who can win extra possessions, clean up loose balls and keep the second unit from getting overrun.
For now, Looney is a usable stopgap. The experience is there.
The stability isn’t guaranteed. That’s why upgrading the backup center spot still feels like a job the Lakers can’t ignore.
In Other News...
Magic Suddenly Face An Early Test They Didn't Expect
The first week of the NBA season gave Orlando a little of everything, and not all of it was welcome. A 1-2 start is hardly a disaster in October, but the Magic already had to deal with losses to Atlanta and Minnesota before steadying things with a win over the Knicks, all while trying to sort through an early lineup that has already been altered by injuries to starters.
Franz Wagner and Anthony Black helped provide some relief in New York, giving the team a glimpse of the depth it may need sooner than expected. Wagner caught fire late, and Blacks bench production stood out, but the bigger issue now is how Orlando manages the bigger-picture strain of losing key rotation pieces this early and whether the roster can keep its footing while the team waits for better health. [Read more 🡒]
Franz Wagner Suddenly Feels Crucial To Orlando's Rough Start
The Magic have only three games into the season, but the early shape of the roster has already changed. Orlando is 1-2 and in the middle of a three-game road trip, with Paolo Banchero emerging as the teams most productive player before a high ankle sprain changed the immediate outlook. That leaves a familiar question for this group, where the margin for error is thin and the offense can look stagnant when its primary option is unavailable.
Franz Wagner has been the steady piece through the opening stretch, the one player who has shown up across the box score and kept Orlando moving. He has quietly filled a role that goes beyond scoring, giving the Magic production on the glass and as a creator while the lineup sorts itself out. With Banchero sidelined, Wagners importance only grows, and the early test for Orlando is whether that consistency can help hold the team together before the road trip gets any longer. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Suddenly Have A Ty Jerome Question Worth Watching
Ty Jeromes fast start in Memphis has turned him into one of the more interesting names to monitor around the league, and that matters in Orlando because the Magic have already been circling the same kind of guard help. Through four games, Jerome has looked like a player whose scoring and playmaking can tilt an offense, which is part of why NBA insider Marc Stein said the Grizzlies could be open to moving him as they shift more of their attention toward younger building blocks.
Orlandos interest is easy to understand from a roster-fit standpoint, even if nothing is close to done. The Magic have been mentioned in possible trade chatter alongside other teams, and any conversation about Jerome naturally leads to the same question: whether a deal can be constructed that makes sense for both sides if Memphis decides it is serious about retooling. For now, it is just another name on a growing list of guards worth watching as the season develops. [Read more 🡒]