Toronto Raptors forward-center Sandro Mamukelashvili is set to test unrestricted free agency after declining his $2.8 million player option for the 2026-27 season.
NBA insider Shams Charania reported Monday that Mamukelashvili has opted out of the final year of his contract, with agents George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports telling ESPN that the 27-year-old is expected to draw a strong market in free agency.
The decision comes after the best season of Mamukelashvili’s NBA career. Serving primarily as Toronto’s top reserve big man, he appeared in 80 games and made 13 starts, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes per game. He shot an efficient 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range while posting a 61.4% effective field-goal percentage. His production earned him a top-10 finish in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Mamukelashvili became an important part of a Raptors team that exceeded expectations during the 2025-26 season. Toronto finished 46-36, earned the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round before being eliminated.
The Raptors relied on a balanced core throughout the season. Brandon Ingram led the team with 21.5 points per game while earning an All-Star selection. RJ Barrett averaged 19.3 points in 57 games, Scottie Barnes contributed 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists while finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and Immanuel Quickley added 16.4 points and 5.9 assists.
Mamukelashvili provided consistent frontcourt scoring off the bench alongside starting center Jakob Poeltl, who averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting an NBA-best 70.0% from the field among qualified players.
Toronto’s frontcourt depth could look different entering next season if Mamukelashvili departs. The Raptors selected forward Allen Graves with the 19th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and added guard Jaden Bradley in the second round, while second-year forward Collin Murray-Boyles is expected to compete for a larger role after averaging 8.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in 57 appearances as a rookie.
