Raptors Risk Losing Standout Forward in Free Agency
· Yahoo Sports
The Toronto Raptors have already made important decisions since the end of the 2025-26 season. They added Allen Graves and Jaden Bradley in the NBA Draft, exercised Jamal Shead’s team option and continue to evaluate opportunities to improve a roster that returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2022. But one of the biggest questions facing the front office is whether the Raptors could keep one of last season’s most valuable contributors before free agency opens.
According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Raptors are bracing for forward Sandro Mamukelashvili to decline his $2.8 million player option for the 2026-27 season and become an unrestricted free agent, giving every team in the league an opportunity to pursue him.
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“Sources say that the Raptors, amid Toronto's ongoing trade conversations on various fronts, are bracing for big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to test the open market.”
Stein/Fischer:
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) June 27, 2026
“Sources say that the Raptors, amid Toronto's ongoing trade conversations on various fronts, are bracing for big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to test the open market.”
“The Raptors hope to come to terms on a new deal with the Georgian forward before the marketplace… pic.twitter.com/RPh025WfRi
The potential move has been widely anticipated after Mamukelashvili dramatically outperformed the value of his contract during his first season in Toronto. Signed to a two-year, $5.26 million deal last summer after leaving the San Antonio Spurs, the Georgian forward quickly became one of the Raptors’ most productive reserves and emerged as one of the league’s better value signings.
Mamukelashvili appeared in 80 games, making 13 starts, and averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range. He also finished among the top 10 in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
Because Mamukelashvili has only spent one season with the Raptors, they have limited flexibility under the league’s salary cap rules compared to players they hold Early Bird rights on. Mamukelashvili is expected to command as much as $10 million in free agency, and with the Raptors still trying to navigate their salary cap, this puts them in competition with teams that have greater financial flexibility.
Interest around the league is already beginning to surface. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been identified as a potential destination after reshaping their frontcourt in the LaMelo Ball trade (h/t Timberwolves reporter Dan Moore), while some have also linked Mamukelashvili to teams such as the Boston Celtics because of his shooting and ability to play multiple positions.
Losing Mamukelashvili would leave a noticeable void on the Raptors’ rotation. He became one of the Raptors’ few reliable frontcourt floor spacers and provided valuable depth behind the starting unit throughout the regular season. Although his playoff production dipped against the Cleveland Cavaliers, his performance during the regular season helped the Raptors win 46 games and return to postseason basketball.
The Raptors still have an opportunity to retain him in free agency, but they will also face competition from the open market. After a breakout 2025-26 campaign, Mamukelashvili has positioned himself for the biggest contract of his NBA career, leaving Toronto with a difficult decision if it wants one of last season’s biggest success stories back on the roster.