Lakers Likely To Sign Mamukelashvili, Grimes; Still Pursuing Kessler

People around the league increasingly believe the Lakers will sign forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili and guard Quentin Grimes, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, who reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles continues to pursue Jazz center Walker Kessler, its “top summer target.”

Mamukelashvili and Grimes are unrestricted free agents and thus able to sign with any team. Kessler is restricted, however, so the Lakers would have to either work out a sign-and-trade with Utah or sign him to an offer sheet that the Jazz are unwilling to match in order to acquire him.

Georgian big man Mamukelashvili figures to cash in after having a strong season with the Raptors on a veteran’s minimum in 2025/26. He far outperformed that deal and is expected to command a nine-figure annual payday this summer after declining his $2.8MM player option for ’26/27 to hit free agency. 

Stein, his colleague Jake Fischer, and Dan Woike of The Athletic all linked Mamukelashvili to the Lakers late Monday night. Those same reporters, plus Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal, subsequently connected Grimes to L.A., referring to the former first-round pick as one of the team’s top targets.

Grimes, a 6’4″ shooting guard, has spent the past season-and-a-half with the Sixers. He signed his one-year qualifying last offseason as a restricted free agent and it sounds like the former first-round pick is on track to join his fifth different team ahead of his sixth year in the league.

The Lakers are operating with cap room this summer after LeBron James informed the team he plans to play elsewhere in ’26/27. While they may end up adding Mamukelashvili and Grimes, they’re losing sharpshooter Luke Kennard to the Suns and are expected to lose forward Rui Hachimura as well, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link).

As for Kessler, the 7’2″ big man has met with multiple suitors thus far as he looks to secure a massive contract. The 24-year-old was limited to just five appearances last season due to a shoulder injury, but he’s shown promise as a rebounder and rim protector and the Lakers have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring him in multiple times in the past.