Sandro Mamukelashvili celebrates after a 3-point basket during a January game against the Lakers. Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images
July 1, 2026 Updated 12:21 pm EDT
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, league sources with knowledge of the negotiations told reporters. The contract includes a player option for the fourth and final season. ESPN first reported the deal.
Mamukelashvili, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward, spent the 2025-26 season with the Toronto Raptors. He is entering his sixth NBA season after being selected with the No. 54 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Seton Hall. He averaged a career-high 11.2 points per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field last season. He also knocked down 1.4 3-pointers per game while shooting 38.9 percent from beyond the arc and is a career 73.9 percent free-throw shooter.
The Lakers already have several players capable of playing power forward under contract, including Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia. But Mamukelashvili brings more size than either player. He is also considered a better floor spacer due to his higher 3-point percentage. The Lakers also have a free-agent decision looming with Rui Hachimura, while LeBron James’ departure creates additional opportunity in the frontcourt.
Mamukelashvili is unlikely to crack the Lakers’ starting lineup, having started just 28 of his 271 career games. He could, however, make an immediate impact as a scoring threat off the bench for a Lakers team that lacked reliable second-unit offense last season unless Hachimura was used as a reserve. Even then, Hachimura averaged just 8.6 points in 23.1 minutes across his 27 off-the-bench appearances. Mamukelashvili is a skilled offensive player who can space the floor, run in transition, thrive as a pick-and-pop option and make timely cuts — qualities that should fit well alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers will be Mamukelashvili’s fourth NBA team. He began his career with the Milwaukee Bucks before being claimed off waivers by the San Antonio Spurs in 2023. After spending last season with Toronto, he opted out of his contract this offseason to pursue this opportunity.
Jul 1, 2026
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