The NBA trade deadline is just under two weeks away.
With the date rapidly approaching, many expect the Atlanta Hawks to be one of the more active teams in discussions to reshape their roster. It makes sense. Now over halfway through the 2025-26 campaign, they sit at four games under .500, fighting for their Play-In lives.
Plus, after trading away the face of the franchise, nothing truly appears off the table. Nothing other than dealing Jalen Johnson, of course. As a team with limited untouchables and proven aggressiveness in trade talks, there's no reason to assume they'll shy away from improving around the margins over the next couple of weeks.
The Hawks are in a rare position of flexibility. Not only do they own plenty of valuable young assets and draft capital, but they're also able to easily identify many (if not all) of their weaknesses, suddenly making the process of evaluating potential trade targets much easier.
One glaring advantage that most teams have over the Hawks when they face off is their paint dominance, with both rebounding and rim protection at the forefront.
If there's one move that makes the most sense for Atlanta to pull off, it would be for a reliable presence down low, either as a new addition to the starting lineup or a valuable anchor in the second unit.
It would be reasonable to assume they'll explore both. Onyeka Okongwu has been great offensively in his first year as the full-time starting center, but his defensive limitations due to his size have made it difficult for Atlanta keep up with the rest of the league on that end of the floor.
Kristaps Porzingis was supposed to be that two-way anchor for the Hawks this season, but between dealing with an illness and a recent injury to his Achilles, he's only suited up in 17 of their 46 games.
Buying low on Goga Bitadze makes all the sense in the world.
A solution to Atlanta's undeniable frontcourt problems may just fall right into their laps. The Orlando Magic, another underwhelming team after an offseason of hype, could decide to switch it up as well. While they won't move off of Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner, re-shaping the back-end of their rotation could soon prove to be wise.
If they elect to do so, Goga Bitadze would be on the trade block, and the Hawks shouldn't waste a moment before inquiring about him. It wouldn't be a typical flashy move, but he directly addresses several of Atlanta's prominent weaknesses.
At 6'11", 250 pounds, Bitadze has the physical makeup of an ideal center in today's NBA. His size doesn't limit his offensive game, either. He shoots very efficiently at the rim and is one of the most underrated bench playmakers in the league.
His offensive similarities to Okongwu make him a seamless fit in the rotation, and his ability to protect the paint could limit the amount of quality looks other teams are consistently able to generate against Atlanta's weak interior.
For the minutes he receives, his rebounding numbers are impressive. Grabbing over five boards a game in just under 17 minutes a night proves he's deserving of a new situation where he can fully blossom as a valued big man.
His contract is the cherry on top. Not only would Bitadze immediately elevate Atlanta's attack on both ends of the floor, but he would allow them to maintain all of the financial flexibility they've opened up over the last year. In each of the next two seasons, he's making an average of just under $8 million.
A cheap, versatile, proven two-way force who fits the timeline could be the small addition this team needs to flip the script on an otherwise disappointing season.