The Los Angeles Lakers signed Sandro Mamukelashvili to replace Rui Hachimura, and fans will quickly love that move. Hachimura became a sharpshooter in LA. Fans were upset to see him leave, but Mamu can do a lot more than spot up and attack a closeout. The 6’9 big man will give the purple and gold similar shooting and a lot more that supporters will quickly fall in love with.
Mamukelashvili averaged 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes per game last season. He shot 52.3 percent from the field and 38.9 percent on his 3-point attempts. Mamu is a plus shooter that offers rebounding, playmaking, and a much more versatile offensive game than Rui. It is the type of play that gets the entire building excited.
Mamu has serious flaws in his game that may prove problematic in the playoffs. Teams will force him to guard on the perimeter and attack him, but Hachimura is flawed in different ways. It is the rest of Mamu’s game that will get Lakers fans excited.
Lakers upgraded by going from Rui Hachimura to Sandro Mamukelashvili
Fans weren’t onboard with this signing, especially after Rui signed a two-year deal with the rival Clippers. Mamu got a bit less per year, but that wasn’t enough to sway the consensus.
Who would you rather have on the Lakers?
— Tyler Watts (@tylerpwatts) July 6, 2026
Plays like these will change people’s minds. Mamukelashvili can start a fastbreak and get his team an easy bucket. Hachimura wasn’t doing this at any point for the Lakers.
I was NOT kidding about the Mamu grab-and-go thing, by the way.
— Nekias (Nuh-KAI-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) July 1, 2026
The Raptors generated over 1.2 PPP (!) on trips where Sandro Mamukelashvili 1) grabbed a defensive rebound and 2) brought the ball up.
Could attack himself, hit lane-fillers, receive drag screens or flow into DHOs. pic.twitter.com/JaeNVqfqpC
The Lakers got their version of PJ Washington with this signing. He is a versatile forward capable of doing more in the right situation. Washington helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals in 2024, playing off Luka. The Lakers superstar will make Mamu better too.
Brian Windhorst thinks the Lakers upgraded by ditching Hachimura for Mamu. He said this on an appearance on The Sedano and Kap Morning Show.
“I like the value they got Mamukelashvili on. A lot of people in the league that I’ve talked to like that contract and like that value as a Rui replacement. Rui signed for $14 million with the Clippers. I am not sure he would have signed for $14 million with the Lakers.”
Hachimura was a spot-up shooter that offered little else. He had plus size and could attack a closeout. His abysmal rebounding and lack of defense were problems. Credit to Rui for adapting to a catch-and-shoot role, but the Lakers couldn’t get any more value out of him.
Mamu is the type of player who can start a fastbreak, hit a pick-and-pop 3-pointer, and drive for an easy layup on three straight possessions. The 6’9 big man is between positions defensively, but his offensive game is exciting. Fans will love what he can do, and the versatility should pop further playing off Luka.
The Los Angeles Lakers revamped their roster around Luka Doncic this offseason, and Sandro Mamukelashvili is the type of player the superstar gets the most out of. Mamu has a versatile game, and Luka draws a ton of defensive attention. The big man will be getting an easy layup and nailing a 3-pointer before anyone recognizes he’s on the floor.
Fans will love it. Mamu will quickly make Lakers supporters forget about letting Hachimura walk. The big man will be a fan favorite that gets the entire building fired up when he checks into the game. Fans can bank on that.
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