Sandro Mamukelashvili Expresses Excitement To Join Lakers

Jan 20, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) takes a breathe during a break in the action against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images Jan 20, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) takes a breathe during a break in the action against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Sandro Mamukelashvili Expresses Excitement To Join Lakers

Originally posted on Lakers Nation | By Ron Gutterman | Last updated Jul 2, 2026 3:45 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The Los Angeles Lakers completely rebuilt their roster in a 35-minute frenzy on Wednesday morning, bringing in four new players on multi-year deals to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. One of those signings was stretch big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, who the Lakers poached from the Toronto Raptors on a four-year, $52 million contract.

The Georgian big man averaged 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds on 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from deep for the Raptors last season, and he now joins the Lakers with the potential to either be the starting power forward or a backup stretch five next to Walker Kessler. And the 27-year-old is excited and ready to join the purple and gold:

Excited to be part of the Lakers family. #LakeShow

— Sandro Mamukelashvili (@Mamukelashvili5) July 2, 2026

https://t.co/rVW7kyRj0p pic.twitter.com/Z0nMG4380F

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) July 2, 2026

Mamukelashvili is one of the league’s more underrated players, and Lakers fans will surely be excited about what he brings to the table once he’s playing games in downtown L.A. His combination of shooting, playmaking and rim pressure is relatively rare for someone his size, and his defense — while not elite — can prove to be a net positive in the right system.

He seems excited to show the fans and the organization why he was worth the multi-year contract, and is ready to bring his skillset to a new-look Lakers team alongside Kessler, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton.

Lakers still looking to add wings

The Lakers have 13 players under contract, but their team feels nowhere close to complete. They have ac clear hole on the wings, with Grimes representing more of a big shooting guard and Mamukelashvili being closer to a small-ball center. It appears the Lakers know this, and are on the hunt for a wing with either veteran minimum contracts or by clearing space with trades for players at the back of the roster, like Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht.

One player the Lakers might have interest in to fill this slot is Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga. The former Golden State Warriors lottery pick is an unrestricted free agent after the team declined his $24 million team option. The Lakers would either need him to take a minimum deal, or offer him room after trading one of the above players.

L.A. could do the same for Rui Hachimura, who remains unsigned after two full days of free agency.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Lakers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: