[220Participant]

 The Pacers really surprised me by selecting Goga Bitadze when they have two excellent young big men in Myles Turner and Domatis Sabonis. They have weaker areas that could be weaker than most would imagine due to injury and free agency. I really imagined they’d go for a playmaking and high scoring wing rather than a big man. How do you feel about Goga?

On an undoubtedly positive, getting TJ Warren and the 32nd pick was a total steal. Warren could really help as he can fill it up offensively.

[French FlairParticipant]

 but I think this draft is very weak, it will be easier to fill the gaps with free agency this summer.

They perhaps took a draft and stash prospect with lot of upside… just in case they can’t hold back Domantas Sabonis next year.

[festar35Participant]

In terms of a talent I really like Goga. He seems to have a skillset that is a combination of Turner & Sabonis which is exciting to think about, he is probably the most talented of the 3 of them. He isn’t the passer of Sabonis or the athlete that Turner is, but outside that he has a rather high ceiling. 

In terms of fit it is undoubtedly odd, but as KP said he Liked what they did in Denver with a 3 big rotation, I expect Turner & Sabonis to start with Bitadze getting 20mpg off of the bench.

As I said, Bitadze has the most potential of the 3, he can shoot & post up, can rebound at a high clip, able to protect the rim, is a reasonable passer & the thing he has over the 2 in particular is his size. He has Turner’s length, but with a solid physical body to go against the bigger guys in the NBA. If he looks the business I suspect Turner will be the odd man out as time goes by, around the trade deadline we should have a feel for what we have in these 3 guys.

[kobyzParticipant]

 i compare him to Wendell Carter Jr

[festar35Participant]

I don’t see the comparison at all to be honest with you. 

There are 2 guys I compare Bitadze to, that being Nikola Vucevic & Jusuf Nurkic. His upside is the offense of Vucevic & the defense of Nurkic which would be an absolutely phenomenal player in my opinion. Even if he doesn’t get that good I see a guy who can probably give you 15/10 while being able to hit an outside shot whilst being able to body up with the bigger C’s in the league.

[kobyzParticipant]

 i think he’s more nimble than those two…

[kobyzParticipant]

 as a Spurs fan it really sucks we missed up on him by one spot…

[festar35Participant]

Just my take on how this will likely work. I see Turner & Sabonis starting together with Turner getting about 32mpg & Sabonis getting 28mpg. Bitadze will probably get 18-20mpg as back-up C.

 

I know he hasn’t played a game yet, but I see Bitadze as our future C he just has a better all-round game than the other 2. Both Sabonis & Turner will be auditioning to see if they can play PF next to him long-term. If neither looks likely I can see Turner being moved & Sabonis going back to his 6th man role splitting time at PF/C.

 

Would love us to get a PF like Aaron Gordon or SF like Jaylen Brown in return for Turner if that is what happens.

[kobyzParticipant]

 Toronto just won the title with playing Gasol and Ibaka together significant time in the playoff, so there’s a reason to be optimistic about that Indiana 2 bigs combination…

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Defenitely not a signifigant time played together. Only happened a few times in each series to change things up and give teams a different look. Not once did they start together. Even with that being said Ibaka spent most of his career as a Power Forward. This season is his 1st playing Center fulltime.

[HitsterParticipant]

 A lot will depend what the Pacers do if FA. Thad Young is out of contract and could move on. It depends what sort of money he’d want, whether he might get interest from a stronger contender etc. Also Sabonis can be extended this summer so drafting Goga gives them leverage over his deal as he’d see they have a ready made replacement there if he asked for too much.

I’ve still got to be convinced that Turner and Sabonis can play together as a starting duo maybe a bit like when Kanter and Favors didn’t gel as a starting duo at Utah. I think the Pacers need to get Sabonis extended and give him and Turner a run together and if they don’t work out then flip one for an asset.

[festar35Participant]

I think we see a decent commitment to those 2 this season. Thad will not be back the only guy I think we potentially see again is Bogdanovic, but with the acquisition of Warren even that is a question.

[weballin.netParticipant]

Bitadze is a very good pick at 18. Don’t forget he averaged almost 3bl at age 19 in Euroleague, the second best league in the world. He’s mobile, relentless and is working on extending his range.

Now, is he the player the Pacers need as Evans will be suspended and Oladipo will only come back in december/january? The Pacers basically went with best player available as Thybulle or Windler would have been reaches at this point. Maybe Porter Jr would have been a good pick but his off court issues and relative lack of efficiency may have bothered the Pacers

[Author]

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