No. 19 — San Antonio Spurs: Goga Bitadze, C
Team: KK Buducnost | Height: 6’11” | Weight: 245 | Age: 19
The Spurs have a history of drafting excellent Euro players and the Spurs have a history of drafting very well. Georgian center Goga Bitadze could be the next in line of San Antonio Euro draft steals. The Spurs could afford to take a chance on a big with some upside, as Pau Gasol is gone and Jakob Poeltl is what he is.
BItadze’s movement is much improved and he is no longer a liability covering the pick and roll. He shoots an easy ball and has flashed shooting ability, along with some serious flashes of skill: putting the ball on the floor and making good passes.
More obviously, he is a 19-year-old putting up impressive numbers in the Euroleague, a feat most European teenagers do not achieve. Drafting a coordinated big with real offensive upside in the late teens is a fantastic grab for San Antonio here and Bitadze would have no better coach to help him ascend to his potential outcome. — Ben Pfeifer