Sandro Mamukelashvili said Monday that he “really wants” to stay with the Toronto Raptors, noting his appreciation for both the city and the organization, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.
However, if he chooses to decline his player option for 2026/27, Toronto would only have his Non-Bird rights, which could make it more difficult to offer a competitive deal without using another exception.
Looking at the bigger picture, Eric Koreen of The Athletic outlined several takeaways from the season and the team’s first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He highlighted Scottie Barnes as a clear franchise centerpiece and pointed to rookie Collin Murray-Boyles as another key long-term piece, while also suggesting that head coach Darko Rajakovic has earned an extension.
At the same time, Koreen noted that Barnes may still need a better-fitting co-star, and emphasized that improving the team’s shooting remains a major priority moving forward.
Raptors Rumors: Dick, Poeltl, Barrett, Ingram, Mamukelashvili https://t.co/soAaDXGHy7
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 5, 2026
