With the roster coming together the way it is for the Los Angeles Lakers, Sandro Mamukelashvili looks more and more like the primary option at backup center by the day. That comes with the obstacle of him not being a particularly viable one on the defensive end.
The way the Toronto Raptors offset this last season was by utilizing their big and strong forwards. Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles helped them get away with featuring Mamukelashvili at the five since both of them were able to regularly scale up and guard opposing team's centers.
There are two forwards on the Lakers roster who JJ Redick could flirt with being able to execute a similar task. That would be Jarred Vanderbilt and Adou Thiero. Whichever one of them can prove more effective could secure a permanent role off the bench for Los Angeles this season.
Jarred Vanderbilt and Sandro Mamukelashvili offset each other's weaknesses
Vanderbilt's name has been dragged through the mud a ton this offseason. In all fairness, his contract figure does warrant it. $12.4 million is a lot to be paying a role player who is far from a consistent mainstay in the rotation.
Vanderbilt could be found in Redick's doghouse a ton last season when he underperformed. During the Lakers' best stretch in March, a fully healthy rotation did not feature him. This is a different team, though. One could even argue it calls out for Vando's remaining strengths a lot more.
Vanderbilt has lost a step defensively. That should not be disputed. The Lakers forward is not quite that same defensive hound who convinced the franchise to pay him what they did. However, Vando is still a positive on that side of the floor overall, and offers more down low than Mamu can.
There is a proven track record of Redick's willingness to deploy Vanderbilt as a small-ball five. Having Mamukelashvili spacing the floor also balances out Vando's shortcomings on offense. If the Lakers forward wants a path to the floor and justifying his contract, this could be it.
Adou Thiero offers an equally intriguing option for the Lakers
Thiero does not have Vanderbilt's pedigree of strong defensive play. What he does have, by comparison, is athleticism — boatloads of it. The young Laker also has an incredibly high motor to boot.
Once more, Redick did show brief willingness to experiment with Thiero at the five spot last season. It came in their second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Thiero's combination of strength and ability to jump out of the gym certainly gives the Lakers someone who theoretically can scale up on bigger players. It just comes down to getting him those reps, and putting that theory to the test.
One way or another, if the Lakers are going to be playing Mamukelashvili as a backup center in 2026-27, adopting the Raptors' strategy from last season could prove advantageous. If one of Thiero or Vanderbilt can show they are capable of executing that role beside Mamu, it should ensure them a permanent spot off the bench for Los Angeles.
Add us as a preferred source on Google