The Lakers now know what their future looks like without LeBron James. It starts with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as the new foundational pieces in Los Angeles. And according to multiple league sources, the front office has a pretty clear idea of who it wants to put around them.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Wednesday that the Lakers have zeroed in on two free agents in particular: Toronto Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili and Philadelphia 76ers wing Quentin Grimes. Stein noted that both players have emerged as priority targets for the Lakers as they look to reshape the roster with roughly $52 million in cap space now available.
“Last night we reported the Lakers’ rising interest in Toronto free agent Sandro Mamukelashvili. Now league sources tell @JakeLFischer and me that Philadelphia’s Quentin Grimes is emerging as another top Lakers target,” Stein wrote on his X account.
The Lakers have not confirmed any of this. But the logic is easy to follow.
What Mamukelashvili Brings to the Table
Mamukelashvili just finished the best season of his NBA career. The 25-year-old big man averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists across 80 regular-season games for Toronto, shooting 52.3% from the field. He became a reliable part of the Raptors’ frontcourt rotation and showed enough versatility to play either the four or the five in certain lineups.
His playoff minutes dipped against Cleveland. But that doesn’t erase what he put on tape all season. He’s the kind of big who can stretch the floor, pass a little and defend multiple positions. That fits next to Doncic.
Grimes Offers Two-Way Value on the Wing
Grimes landed in Philadelphia midway through the 2024-25 season and quietly put together a solid year. He averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 33% from deep in the regular season. His scoring dropped to 6.7 points per game in the playoffs, but he still hit 40% of his three-point attempts. That matters for a Lakers team that needs spacing around Doncic’s drives and Reaves’ ball-handling.
Grimes can guard multiple perimeter spots, too. He’s not a star, but he’s a functional two-way piece who has shown he can knock down shots when defenses collapse.
The Lakers could realistically pursue both players. The cap space created by James’ departure — confirmed through his agent Rich Paul — gives them the flexibility to make multiple moves. Doncic and Reaves are the anchors now. The front office just needs to find the right blend of role players around them.
Mamukelashvili and Grimes might not be the flashiest names on the board. But the Lakers seem to think they’re the smartest fit.
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