DHJ Quick Take: Lakers Eye Sandro Mamukelashvili in Free Agency
The Los Angeles Lakers have shown significant interest in free agent big man Sandro Mamukelashvili as they look to upgrade the frontcourt around Luka Dončić. The Georgian stretch five hit the open market after declining his player option in Toronto.
- How serious is the Lakers’ interest in Sandro Mamukelashvili? Dallas Hoops Journal has learned Los Angeles has shown significant interest as it works the frontcourt market.
- Why does Mamukelashvili fit the Lakers? He is a 6-9 stretch big coming off a career year, shooting 38.9% from three, which spaces the floor for Dončić.
- Why does it matter? Center has been the Lakers’ top need since Dončić arrived, and Mamukelashvili offers a budget-friendly option alongside their pursuit of a primary center.
- What’s next? NBA free agency negotiations open at 5 p.m. CT Tuesday, June 30, with deals able to be signed once the moratorium lifts July 6.
The Los Angeles Lakers are among interested suitors for free agent forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili, Dallas Hoops Journal has learned through league sources, as the franchise builds around Luka Dončić.
Mamukelashvili reached the open market this week after declining his $2.8 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the Toronto Raptors. He is expected to draw a wide market after his best season.
Sandro Mamukelashvili Reaches Free Agency After a Career Year
Mamukelashvili, a 27-year-old, 6-foot-9 forward/center, averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 80 games for Toronto this past season while shooting 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range, all career highs. He started 13 games and logged 21.9 minutes a night, then appeared in all seven games of the Raptors’ first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers for his first postseason action.
A second-round pick in 2021, Mamukelashvili broke in with the Milwaukee Bucks and spent time with the San Antonio Spurs before settling into a rotation role in Toronto over the past two seasons. The Georgian big man came up at Montverde Academy and Seton Hall, where he was named Big East co-Player of the Year as a senior.
Lakers Prioritize a Frontcourt Upgrade Around Luka Dončić
Center has been the Lakers’ clearest need since Dončić arrived, and the front office under president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka has spent the offseason hunting for an upgrade over Deandre Ayton. Dončić has pushed for a higher-end option in the middle, and Los Angeles has been linked to a range of bigs, including Mitchell Robinson, Robert Williams III, Walker Kessler, and Jalen Duren.
The Lakers locked up Austin Reaves early in the offseason on a four-year, $185 million extension, clearing one major item off the board before turning to the frontcourt. Their interest in Mamukelashvili points to a second track, adding a stretch big who can space the floor next to whichever center they land rather than serve as the lone answer at the position.
Where Sandro Mamukelashvili Fits in a Crowded Center Market
The fit in Los Angeles runs through his shooting. A frontcourt player who can knock down threes near a 39% clip gives Dončić room to operate without losing spacing, the skill the team has said it wants as it tries to get younger and more athletic up front.
Mamukelashvili will not lack for suitors after spending last season on a veteran-minimum deal and carrying a modest cap hold, which makes him a realistic target for teams working with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception or limited room, the Lakers among them.
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