The Toronto Raptors season came to an end following a Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday night, and with the playoffs now in the rear-view mirror in Toronto, the focus shifts to the off-season.
Some of that focus is on big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, who has a $2.8-million player option for next season. Given how well the Georgian centre played this season, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 52.3 per cent from the field, the almost 27-year-old seems very likely to opt out of that deal and become a free agent.
With the Raptors already financially constrained, it could prove tough for general manager Bobby Webster and the big to come to an agreement.
“This summer we’ll talk to his reps and talk to Mamu. I think he wants to be here,” said Webster. “There’s financial realities of the NBA, but we’ll do everything we can to retain him.”
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Mamukelashvili was a big part in helping the Raptors improve by 16 wins from last season and added much-needed depth and a different skillset in the front court that Toronto lacked.
“Very rarely does it fit like you plan in the summer, and I think even from [head coach] Darko Rajakovic’s perspective – whether it was on or off the court – that people realized he has a great personality and loves the city,” said Webster.
“He fit in really well here. I think we knew the financial realities of signing the contract, but that was one of the reasons why he picked us was because of the fit – even though it wasn’t as much money as other places. We’ve been looking for that stretch big for a number of years, and so to see it with the bench or sometimes with the starters was nice to see.”
Toronto doesn’t have much wiggle room under the luxury tax, and while going into the tax is a possibility, it brings other challenges in terms of team building. Another natural option would be to ship out money to make room, though that might not have to happen.
“We’d like to think we can, but haven’t had those conversations,” said Webster on retaining Mamukelashvili without making any cost-cutting moves.
The former second-round pick fit well on and off the court in Toronto, and after taking a pay cut to come north of the border in the first place, it remains to be seen what the next iteration of Mamukelashvili’s contract will look like, and if it’s with the Raptors.
