Best free-agent fits for the Toronto Raptors after the NBA Draft

Goga Bitadze, Center

Our final category of free agent is that of pure centers, bigs with size who can protect the paint and block shots. Scottie Barnes is one of the better shot-blocking forwards in the NBA but he does his best work when he can rove the court with another shot-blocker behind him. Jakob Poeltl, whether he stays with the team for all of next season or not, can only play so many minutes. Kelly Olynyk and Chris Boucher don't have the interior size or ability to play that role.

That means the Raptors could pursue someone in free agency to fill that role, likely a low-cost option to shore up their depth without using up a significant portion of their exceptions nor committing to long-term money with Poeltl still on the roster.

Goga Bitadze is a solid choice for that role, a 6'11" center who clocks in at around 250 pounds and can absolutely stand opposing bigs up in the paint. He played extremely well as the backup in Orlando this past year, including a strong stretch as the starting center filling in for the injured Wendell Carter Jr. He averaged 11.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per 36 minutes last season.

Bitadze turns 25 this summer and will likely be squeezed out by the Magic this summer, especially given reports that they are in the market for a new starting center like Isaiah Hartenstein. The Raptors would be smart to swoop in and offer Bitadze something over the minimum and add him to their program.

Similar options: Jonas Valanciunas, Drew Eubanks