The Toronto Raptors may have a difficult time retaining one of their key frontcourt contributors when NBA free agency opens. According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Raptors are preparing for forward Sandro Mamukelashvili to test the open market despite their desire to reach a new agreement before free agency officially begins.
What happened?
The Raptors hope to come to terms on a new deal with the Georgian forward before the marketplace opens, but Mamukelashvili is expected to have multiple suitors at a sizable portion of the full $15 million midlevel exception if he does not score a new deal from Toronto before Tuesday evening at 6 PM ET.
Mamukelashvili emerged as an important piece of Toronto's frontcourt rotation during the 2025-26 season, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting an efficient 52.3% from the field across 80 regular-season games.
Recent performance
His role, however, diminished during the Raptors' first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over seven games, Mamukelashvili averaged 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per contest.
Why it matters for Toronto Raptors
But despite his diminished role in the playoffs, he emerged as a key signing for the Raptors in the 2025 offseason following his two-year stint with the San Antonio Spurs. He very well could be key to the Raptors once again looking to make the playoffs, as they look to upgrade their roster at key positions.
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2025-01-18 | Milwaukee Bucks 130-112 Toronto Raptors |
The Raptors could face stiff competition to keep one of their most productive reserve big men heading into next season. With several teams reportedly prepared to pursue him using a significant portion of the midlevel exception, the Raptors may struggle to retain Mamukelashvili. As of the last result, the Raptors have a recent form of 0W-0D-3L, having lost their last three games.
What comes next?
The Raptors will need to make a strong offer to keep Mamukelashvili, or risk losing him to another team. With the NBA free agency opening soon, the Raptors will need to act quickly to secure their key players. The future of the Toronto Raptors hangs in the balance, and the decision on Mamukelashvili will be important to their success next season.
