Lakers/Magic - Goga/Knecht

[Knightro]

Simple one here.

To Los Angeles
-Goga Bitadze

To Orlando
-Dalton Knecht
-Shake Milton (waived by Orlando)

Why for LA? They get a starting caliber center without giving up anyone who played significant minutes for them in the playoffs last year.

Why for Orlando? They save $4.8M as they look to avoid the luxury tax while retaining Moe Wagner. Knecht also gives them SG/SF depth as they will likely be moving on from Jett Howard in short order to save additional funds.

[Godaddycurse]

dont think bitadze is worth knecht. orlando need to kick back some 2nds

[BK_2020]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

[Knightro]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

Certainly on the lower end of the starting spectrum, but he can start.

He started 75 games for the Magic over the last two years and did fine. Nothing earth shattering, but he is a very solid drop coverage defensive center.

[Texas Chuck]

Lakers need to aim higher but also different in style. Magic owe value here imo, but Lakers should pass even with that addressed.

[oldncreaky]

dont think bitadze is worth knecht. orlando need to kick back some 2nds

I see it as a decent backup C for a decent backup shooter, with neither player having significant upside -- so roughly equal value, but the backup C might be a harder position to fill

[BK_2020]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

Certainly on the lower end of the starting spectrum, but he can start.

He started 75 games for the Magic over the last two years and did fine. Nothing earth shattering, but he is a very solid drop coverage defensive center.

He also played 3mpg and 3 out of 5 games in the playoffs this year. Knecht would've started 75 games, too, if everyone ahead of him got injured.
I think the Lakers can get a Goga-level guy without giving up a rotation player.

[tiderulz]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

is it? he started 42 games last year while WCJ was out, putting up 9+ ppg, 8+ rpg, 2 bpg, 2+ apg in 24 mpg.

i dont think thats a "huge stretch"

[tiderulz]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

Certainly on the lower end of the starting spectrum, but he can start.

He started 75 games for the Magic over the last two years and did fine. Nothing earth shattering, but he is a very solid drop coverage defensive center.

He also played 3mpg and 3 out of 5 games in the playoffs this year. Knecht would've started 75 games, too, if everyone ahead of him got injured.
I think the Lakers can get a Goga-level guy without giving up a rotation player.

he was hurt at the end of last year and into the playoffs

[Godaddycurse]

dont think bitadze is worth knecht. orlando need to kick back some 2nds

I see it as a decent backup C for a decent backup shooter, with neither player having significant upside -- so roughly equal value, but the backup C might be a harder position to fill

Knecht is younger, cheaper and cost controlled for longer, hence need few seconds

[Apz]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

is it? he started 42 games last year while WCJ was out, putting up 9+ ppg, 8+ rpg, 2 bpg, 2+ apg in 24 mpg.

i dont think thats a "huge stretch"

Hayes played 56, started 35 and total of 1093min played
Goga 70, 42 ,1430. It doeant really say anytjing for 3rd stringers if there is no competition

[BK_2020]

Certainly on the lower end of the starting spectrum, but he can start.

He started 75 games for the Magic over the last two years and did fine. Nothing earth shattering, but he is a very solid drop coverage defensive center.

He also played 3mpg and 3 out of 5 games in the playoffs this year. Knecht would've started 75 games, too, if everyone ahead of him got injured.
I think the Lakers can get a Goga-level guy without giving up a rotation player.

he was hurt at the end of last year and into the playoffs

I still think the Lakers can do better than Goga if they are dangling Knecht. Not saying Knecht is some blue chip prospect but he's already a decent rotation guy and has 3 more years of rookie contract control remaining. Or do Knecht plus some asset for someone like Kessler.

[tiderulz]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

is it? he started 42 games last year while WCJ was out, putting up 9+ ppg, 8+ rpg, 2 bpg, 2+ apg in 24 mpg.

i dont think thats a "huge stretch"

Hayes played 56, started 35 and total of 1093min played
Goga 70, 42 ,1430. It doeant really say anytjing for 3rd stringers if there is no competition

and Hayes put up 8/6/.9/1 in 22 mpg.

still doesnt mean Goga couldnt be a starter. Many Magic fans would rather Goga start as he was a better rebounder and passer than WCJ

[tiderulz]

He also played 3mpg and 3 out of 5 games in the playoffs this year. Knecht would've started 75 games, too, if everyone ahead of him got injured.
I think the Lakers can get a Goga-level guy without giving up a rotation player.

he was hurt at the end of last year and into the playoffs

I still think the Lakers can do better than Goga if they are dangling Knecht. Not saying Knecht is some blue chip prospect but he's already a decent rotation guy and has 3 more years of rookie contract control remaining. Or do Knecht plus some asset for someone like Kessler.

that may be the case. Knecht 24, Goga 25. they both can get better.

[Knightro]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

Certainly on the lower end of the starting spectrum, but he can start.

He started 75 games for the Magic over the last two years and did fine. Nothing earth shattering, but he is a very solid drop coverage defensive center.

He also played 3mpg and 3 out of 5 games in the playoffs this year. Knecht would've started 75 games, too, if everyone ahead of him got injured.
I think the Lakers can get a Goga-level guy without giving up a rotation player.

I don’t think it’s fair to say Goga isn’t a rotation player because he didn’t play in the playoffs, but also turn around say Knecht is a rotation player when he played all of 4 garbage time minutes in 6 playoff games.

[BK_2020]

Certainly on the lower end of the starting spectrum, but he can start.

He started 75 games for the Magic over the last two years and did fine. Nothing earth shattering, but he is a very solid drop coverage defensive center.

He also played 3mpg and 3 out of 5 games in the playoffs this year. Knecht would've started 75 games, too, if everyone ahead of him got injured.
I think the Lakers can get a Goga-level guy without giving up a rotation player.

I don’t think it’s fair to say Goga isn’t a rotation player because he didn’t play in the playoffs, but also turn around say Knecht is a rotation player when he played all of 4 garbage time minutes in 6 playoff games.

I'm saying they are both around the same level right now. It's the OP who argues that Knecht is someone who couldn't get playing time in the playoffs and Goga is a starting level center.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

is it? he started 42 games last year while WCJ was out, putting up 9+ ppg, 8+ rpg, 2 bpg, 2+ apg in 24 mpg.

i dont think thats a "huge stretch"

24 mpg isn't really starter minutes

[penbeast0]

Calling Goga a starting caliber center is a huge stretch.

is it? he started 42 games last year while WCJ was out, putting up 9+ ppg, 8+ rpg, 2 bpg, 2+ apg in 24 mpg.

i dont think thats a "huge stretch"

24 mpg isn't really starter minutes

Unfortunately, in today's NBA for non-superstar centers, it is . . .

[Jody Smokz]

Lakers cannot give up their best shooter for a backup C.

[Devilanche]

Both are fairly similar level today, at best a mid second rounder different in terms of value …