The Lakers’ offseason reset was built around Luka Doncic, but one of the quieter additions may be turning into the most useful one of all. Sandro Mamukelashvili arrived in free agency on a four-year deal, and early returns suggest the veteran forward has already carved out a real place in JJ Redick’s rotation.
Los Angeles brought him in with the idea that he could fit cleanly alongside Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler, and that belief has only grown through the first 13 games of the 2026-27 NBA season. Mamukelashvili has looked comfortable in the second unit, and Doncic has already noted how “comfortable” the 27-year-old has become.
The production has been hard to ignore. Mamukelashvili has put together back-to-back 23-point games, and Redick has continued to praise him while making it clear the Lakers trust him. He’s also drawing attention as a possible NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate if this run keeps going.
His numbers back up the surge: 10.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, while shooting 49.5% from the field and 41.2% from three. That kind of efficiency off the bench gives the Lakers something they can lean on every night.
Mamukelashvili has also been open about the mental side of the adjustment. On why he hasn’t been able to fully accept the trust shown by the Lakers based on how his career started, he said: “I hope I’ll get better.
I hope I’ll start believing in myself as much as they do. …”
That confidence seems to be building game by game. Kessler has pointed to that growth, while also highlighting how dangerous Mamukelashvili has been on offense. He’s giving the Lakers scoring, rebounding, passing and floor spacing in one package, and he’s doing it with enough size to matter.
Right now, he looks like the best player in the second unit. If this stretch continues, Mamukelashvili may end up being one of the most valuable additions Los Angeles made this year, and maybe the most underrated weapon on the roster.
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Lakers Rookie Suddenly Looks Like A Real Fit Next To Luka And Reaves
Arthur Kalumas strong summer has earned him a real foothold with the Lakers, enough to turn a promising camp run into a two-way contract and a longer look in the organization. The undrafted rookie forward impressed during NBA Summer League play, then got into preseason action as the team sorted out its back end of the roster and looked for players who could stay ready for bigger opportunities.
For now, Kaluma is expected to do most of his development work with the Coachella Valley Lakers while remaining on call for the NBA club, which is exactly the kind of path a young player has to embrace in a crowded system. He has not played in a regular-season game yet, but the early signs suggest the Lakers see a useful blend of energy and adaptability, the sort of profile that can matter when a team is trying to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. [Read more 🡒]
Bronny James Is Facing A Lakers Decision Fans Never Expected
The Lakers strong start has not stopped the conversation around the back end of the roster, where every minute and every mistake is getting magnified. NBA insider Jovan Buha recently raised the question of whether Bronny James should keep his spot, pointing to the guards limited production and the uneven play that has drawn criticism from some of the teams reserves in late-game situations.
Los Angeles has opened 11-2, so the focus has shifted from survival to fit, and that is where the discussion gets uncomfortable. Buha argued the Lakers could use a steadier ball-handler, which is why the idea of bringing in a more established veteran has entered the conversation while James remains under the microscope for what he has, and has not, provided so far. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Hot Start Puts One More Defense-First Move In Focus
The Lakers strong start has only sharpened the focus on how they want to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and defense remains the clearest priority. With the team already leaning into a more balanced identity, any move that adds a versatile stopper naturally gets attention, especially when it could help shore up the kind of perimeter resistance that matters most in the West.
One name now circulating in that conversation is Derrick Jones Jr., a familiar face to Doncic from their run together in the 2024 Finals. The Clippers could be willing to listen if Jones wants a change of scenery, which gives the Lakers a potential opening if they decide the fit is worth pursuing, and it is easy to see why a defender with that kind of athletic profile would appeal to a team trying to keep its early momentum going. [Read more 🡒]