The Los Angeles Lakers still have work to do as training camp gets closer, and the biggest hole on the roster remains in the middle. They have 16 guaranteed contracts, but there’s still room for the front office to shuffle salary and make another move before the 2026-2027 season begins.
At center, the depth chart is looking lean. The team has Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney, but Luka Doncic could use more size around him to maximize what the offense can do.
Los Angeles had previously been connected to Nets big man Noah Clowney, though it’s still unclear whether Brooklyn would even be willing to part with him. Sandro Mamukelashvili is also available at 6-foot-9, but he’s more of a combo forward than a true answer for the demands of the position.
That’s why Orlando Magic big man Goga Bitadze has entered the conversation.
Basketball analyst Trevor Lane believes the Lakers would seriously consider a deal if the opportunity is there, even with the history between Bitadze and Doncic. “Immediately, people will jump to well, Goga and Luka got into it last year.
I try to not to put too much stock into that because we’ve seen, look Kobe played with Matt Barnes. LeBron played with Lance Stephenson.
We’ve seen it where guys get into it on the court, they get under each other’s skin. Pat Bev and Russ Westbrook were on the same team, and then they can co-exist on the same club.
So, I’m not just going to assume it’s a no-go simply because … Luka and Goga Bitadze got into it last year,” according to Lane.
Lane also said the Lakers could actually make the money work. “Is it possible for the Lakers to get Goga Bitadze?
Yes. Logistically, it’s not that difficult for them to make that kind of move,” Lane said.
“(He’ll make) $7.6 million, problem. Jaden Hardy, $6 million.
And then whatever kind of draft capital we’re talking, off you go,” Lane continued.
The tension between Doncic and Bitadze goes back to March 2026, when the Lakers and Magic met and the feud carried on after the game. Doncic accused Bitadze of making explicit remarks aimed at his family.
Even with that history, the idea remains on the table because the Lakers are thin at the five spot. Bitadze would give them another body at center, and if Doncic is willing to move past what happened, the possibility of a deal before the season is there.
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Bitadzes fit is one thing, but the human element makes this a little more awkward than a standard depth add. His history with Luka Doncic adds a layer the Lakers would have to consider if the idea ever moved beyond speculation, even as analyst Trevor Lane has suggested the trade mechanics could work in theory. For now, it remains just that: a possibility with no official move reported, and one that leaves at least one uncomfortable subplot hanging over the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
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Still, the biggest question is whether Orlando has done enough to solve the issue in a way that actually changes its ceiling. The roster has long needed true 3-and-D wings, the kind of players who can stay on the floor in big moments while making defenses pay for helping off them, and the offseason additions of Malaki Branham and J.D. Davison on Exhibit 10 deals add more names to monitor in that search. The Magic have pieces in place, but until the shooting catches up with the rest of the group, the same concern hangs over everything else. [Read more 🡒]