05/04/2026, 5:34 PM
Absent from rotation in Game 7
Although Bitadze played the backup center role behind Wendell Carter for much of the year, he wasn't part of Orlando's Game 7 rotation versus the Pistons. Moritz Wagner, who served as the No. 2 big man Sunday, is an impending free agent this summer, so Bitadze could end up reprising a similar role in 2026-27.
05/04/2026, 5:30 PM
Out of rotation to end season
The rookie first-rounder appeared just once during Orlando's seven-game first-round series with Detroit. If the Magic let Jevon Carter walk away this offseason, Richardson would have a better chance of cracking the Opening Night rotation in 2026-27.
05/04/2026, 5:27 PM
Disappointing close to 2025-26
Even with Franz Wagner (calf) and Jonathan Isaac (knee) sidelined, da Silva was phased out of the Orlando rotation at times during this series. It was still a positive 2025-26 campaign overall for the second-year forward, who averaged 9.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 steals in 24.7 minutes per tilt over 77 regular-season games (34 starts).