Sandro Mamukelashvili draws Lakers and Wolves interest after declining Raptors option

Last updated: June 30, 2026

Sandro Mamukelashvili entered unrestricted free agency after declining his $2.8 million player option with the Toronto Raptors, putting the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and other frontcourt-needy teams on alert before the market opens Tuesday evening at 6 PM ET. His breakout season in Toronto turned a bargain contract into a real bidding situation, with multiple reports pointing to offers that could reach or exceed $10 million per year.

For the Lakers, the appeal is straightforward: they are searching for a stronger center rotation. For Minnesota, the question is trickier because Mamukelashvili looks like a clean basketball fit but may no longer fit the Wolves' budget.

The Full Story

Mamukelashvili's free-agency case changed because of what he did in Toronto. After signing a two-year deal with a second-year player option, he outplayed the contract, appeared in 80 games, and gave the Raptors a stretch frontcourt piece who could shoot, pass and handle secondary actions.

The Lakers have been tied to several big men as they try to upgrade their frontcourt. Jalen Duren, Walker Kessler, Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams III have all been mentioned in reporting around Los Angeles, but Mamukelashvili brings a different profile: he is not just a rim-running center, he is a 6-foot-9 forward-center who can space the floor and play either the 4 or the 5.

Minnesota's interest comes from a different roster problem. The Timberwolves moved Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets in the LaMelo Ball deal and also sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets, leaving a clear need at power forward. Mamukelashvili's shooting and connective passing make him one of the cleaner theoretical replacements for Reid, even if Reid remains the more established player.

The money may decide the story. Minnesota is described as having the taxpayer mid-level exception, worth just over $6 million a year, while Mamukelashvili could draw a sizable portion of the full $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That gap matters because a team can love the fit and still lose the player once the market moves.

Central Figures

Sandro Mamukelashvili is the central figure in this market. The 27-year-old forward-center played his first season with Toronto after previous stops with Milwaukee and San Antonio, and his ability to shoot from deep is driving the current interest.

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for frontcourt help and have been linked to Mamukelashvili as part of a broader search. The team has also been connected to more traditional bigs, which makes Mamukelashvili interesting because he offers a spacing-first alternative.

The Minnesota Timberwolves need frontcourt depth after trading Reid and Randle. Their challenge is not identifying the right type of player; it is finding one they can afford while operating with limited spending tools.

The Toronto Raptors still hope to keep him, according to multiple reports, but their cap situation complicates the path. Toronto may need to move salary elsewhere to make a competitive offer.

The Data

Mamukelashvili averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 80 games with the Raptors. He shot 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range, a combination that explains why teams are treating him as more than a standard backup big.

His shooting volume matters as much as the percentage. He attempted about 3.7 threes per game, enough to pull defenders away from the paint and create driving space for guards and wings. For a team built around high-usage creators, that kind of frontcourt spacing has real value.

The contract jump is also part of the story. Mamukelashvili declined a $2.8 million option after playing on a low-cost deal, and reports now place his possible market north of $10 million annually. That is the free-agency reward for turning a limited role into steady production.

What This Means

For U.S. NBA fans, Mamukelashvili is one of those free agents who may not headline the market but can change a rotation. The best teams often hunt for players who can survive in playoff spacing, and a big who shoots near 39% from three naturally gets attention.

The Lakers' interest shows how much frontcourt versatility matters around star creators. A big who can play next to another center, slide into bench units, or keep driving lanes open gives a coaching staff more lineup combinations without forcing the offense into a crowded paint.

For the Timberwolves, the situation is more of a roster-building stress test. They need a Reid replacement, but if Mamukelashvili's price climbs toward the larger mid-level range, Minnesota may have to pivot to cheaper targets or explore trades involving contracts such as Josh Green's expiring deal.

Toronto faces the toughest emotional piece of this market. The Raptors gave Mamukelashvili a consistent role, he turned it into a career season, and now the same success that helped the team may make him difficult to retain.

What to Expect

Free agency is set to open Tuesday evening at 6 PM ET, and Mamukelashvili's market should become clearer once teams with the full mid-level exception and cap flexibility begin making offers. The confirmed next step is simple: he is entering the open market after declining the player option.

Toronto can still try to re-sign him, but reports describe salary movement as a likely requirement for the Raptors to compete financially. The Lakers and Timberwolves are among the teams to watch because both have direct frontcourt needs, though their ability to pay him differs.