Jonathan Kuminga will not be the final piece of the staring lineup puzzle for Los Angeles Lakers after opting for yet another financial gamble in his young career. The free agent forward is accepting a short-term deal to prove his worth with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kuminga's decision should not invite Sandro Mamukelashvili to be his immediate replacement as a starter.
On the surface, Mamukelashvili is the fifth highest paid player on the Lakers roster. That does invite sizable expectations of what Los Angeles will be demanding of him in the upcoming season. There just isn't a direct correlation to starting in that equation.
This does not have to do with talent either. Mamukelashvili has an abundance of it. That was on full display during his breakout season with the Toronto Raptors in 2025-26. This is about the Lakers roster as a whole, and the bigger picture of where their new big man fits in with that team.
For several reasons, Mamu is needed off the bench much more than he would be in the starting lineup. Kuminga or no Kuminga, that should not change.
Lakers will get much more out of Sandro Mamukelashvili as a bench spark
Mamukelashvili started 13 games for the Raptors last season. Despite that, it was with the second unit where the versatile big man made his case for maximized value. Mamu even collected a few votes for Sixth Man of the Year in the process, finishing 10th on he ballot.
It has been a long time since the Lakers have enjoyed a bench group that was capable of keeping the offensive flow going. Pairing Mamukelashvili with Collin Sexton as the driving forces of the second unit would help Los Angeles have that type of balance in the upcoming season.
The Lakers are still mightily thin in the frontcourt behind Walker Kessler, too. Having Mamukelashvili operate as the primary backup at the four and the five offers the Lakers more value than having him penciled in as a starter.
That is especially true when considering his skill set. Between Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, and Kessler, the starting five is not going to be short on offense. They need a low-maintenance player who will prioritize the defensive end of the basketball court.
Mamukelashvili does not fit that description. His primary value comes on the offensive end.
While there will be plenty of room for that skill set to shine, the bench unit is where the Lakers would get the most value out of it. There may still be some games where Mamukelashvili starts in a pinch. That should be the exception, not the expectation.
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