The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to Toronto Raptors forward-center Sandro Mamukelashvili as they explore options to fill an open roster and address their frontcourt needs entering free agency.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, league sources have connected the Lakers to Mamukelashvili after he declined his $2.8 million player option with Toronto for the 2026-27 season. The 27-year-old is expected to draw interest around the league and could command a contract worth $10 million or more annually.
“The Lakers have begun to be linked to a number of players thanks to their wide needs, their empty roster and their ample cap space,” Woike reported. “One name has come up from multiple league sources: Toronto forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili.”
Los Angeles enters the offseason with significant flexibility after finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a 53-29 record and winning the Pacific Division. The Lakers advanced past the Houston Rockets in the first round before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.
The team’s frontcourt situation remains one of its biggest areas of focus. With uncertainty surrounding LeBron James’ future and the Lakers looking to build around Luka Doncic, the franchise is expected to evaluate affordable players who can provide size, shooting and lineup versatility.
Mamukelashvili fits that profile after producing the best season of his NBA career in Toronto. He appeared in 80 games with 13 starts, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes per game. He shot 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range, posting a 61.4% effective field-goal percentage.
His impact helped him finish in the top 10 of Sixth Man of the Year voting. Mamukelashvili became a reliable offensive option for a Raptors team that finished 46-36 and earned the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game first-round series.
Toronto used Mamukelashvili as a complementary big next to starting center Jakob Poeltl, who averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while leading the league in field-goal percentage among qualified players at 70.0%.
The Raptors now face a decision on whether to retain Mamukelashvili or shift more frontcourt responsibility toward younger players.
