Sandro Mamukelashvili found a better lane with the Lakers than he would have had in Toronto.
The Raptors gave him the kind of runway that can change a career. He turned it into a career season, beat his contract, and made himself too expensive for Toronto to keep.
That’s how the Raptors lost a frontcourt piece who mattered during the regular season, even if his playoff impact wasn’t nearly as strong. He turned down his player option, reached free agency, and landed the raise Toronto couldn’t match.
But the move to Los Angeles wasn’t just about money. It also opened a door that stayed shut with the Raptors: a real chance to fight for a starting job, or at least a much bigger role.
That path was never going to be there in Toronto. Scottie Barnes is locked in as the Raptors’ frontcourt centerpiece, and he’s durable enough that the team doesn’t have to plan around him missing time.
If Barnes were sidelined, Collin Murray-Boyles would be next in line to step into the starting five. The same goes if the Raptors ever decided to move Jakob Poeltl out of the lineup - that opening would still belong to Murray-Boyles, not Mamukelashvili.
The Lakers, though, have a different problem. Their frontcourt is wide open, and Mamukelashvili can step into that space if they don’t land Jonathan Kuminga or another forward who’s ready to start.
A recent depth chart from Lake Show Life had Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler locked into three starting spots. Quentin Grimes was projected at small forward, while Mamukelashvili came out as the best option at power forward, ahead of Adou Thiero and Jarred Vanderbilt.
That picture could still change if the Lakers make another major addition. Jonathan Kuminga or P.J.
Washington would push Mamukelashvili back to the bench. Even so, he has a clearer path to a starting role in Los Angeles than he ever would have in Toronto.
And if he does end up coming off the bench, that might still be the best version of this fit for the Lakers. Mamukelashvili is a strong reserve, but asking him to be a full-time starter could be a lot on a team under pressure to build a winner around Luka Doncic.
Toronto, meanwhile, has already moved on with its frontcourt plan. The Raptors signed Kyle Anderson for veteran depth and drafted Allen Graves to round out the rotation behind Barnes, Poeltl and Murray-Boyles.
Of the two additions, Graves is the more intriguing one. The 19-year-old brought a reliable 3-point shot in college, which stands out because that’s something the Raptors’ frontcourt has been missing without Mamukelashvili.
He also earned attention as a disruptive defender. There’s still work to do before either trait translates cleanly to the NBA, but his four-game run with the Raptors’ summer league team offered an encouraging first look.
In Other News...
Raptors Summer Plans Suddenly Hinge On One Kawhi Decision
The Raptors summer has been put on hold while the NBA finishes its investigation into Kawhi Leonard, a process that could stretch all the way into October and bleed into training camp and preseason work. For a team trying to map out its next steps, that kind of uncertainty is more than a nuisance, because it leaves Toronto waiting on a decision that could shape both the roster and the way the front office handles the rest of the offseason.
Leonards status is the key issue, and the leagues ruling could alter the framework of the deal the Raptors are hoping to complete. Toronto is still operating with the expectation that it can finalize the acquisition, but until the investigation is resolved, the team cannot fully know what it is building around or how much flexibility it will have in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Just Lost Another Big Man Fans Thought Could Help
Jamarion Sharps summer with the Raptors was enough to make him a name worth tracking in Toronto, especially for a team that has been searching for size and rim protection behind Jakob Poeltl. The 7-foot-5 center flashed exactly the kind of profile that can stand out in short bursts, pairing efficient scoring with the sort of shot-blocking that tends to get attention fast in a summer-league setting.
Now Sharp is off to another opportunity, and the Raptors are left with the same familiar question in the middle. Poeltl remains the anchor, but the depth chart behind him still looks unsettled, and losing a developmental big who seemed to fit a need only adds to the uncertainty around how Toronto wants to handle the center rotation going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Are Stuck Waiting On The Update That Could Define Everything
While the Eastern Conference keeps reshaping itself, Toronto is still waiting on the kind of front-office answer that can change the entire outlook for the season. The Hawks have already made their splash by landing Lu Dort in a three-team deal, and around the East the Heat, 76ers, Pacers and Cavaliers have all added pieces or are getting key players back, which only sharpens the pressure on everyone else to keep pace.
For the Raptors, the biggest uncertainty remains the stalled Kawhi Leonard situation, a potential move that has been tied up as the Clippers face an investigation into alleged salary-cap circumvention. Until there is clarity, Toronto is left planning for multiple futures at once, with the difference between a team that can push toward the top of the conference and one that is fighting just to stay in the mix hanging on the same unresolved update. [Read more 🡒]