The Los Angeles Lakers have technically replaced Rui Hachimura with Sandro Mamukelashvili. Much as Hachimura was a floor-spacer for the Lakers, Mamukelashvili will ideally be the same. Along those same lines, Mamukelashvili is likely to spend time at the 4, much as Hachimura did.
The comparison ends there, however, as Hachimura and Mamukelashvili couldn't be any more different as players. Thankfully, there doesn't need to be a one-for-one replacement for the signing to have been worth it.
Hachimura operated as an athletic forward who shot efficiently, corner crashed, defended multiple positions, and attacked closeouts. He provided significant value in that role, meaning Los Angeles entered the offseason needing to at least cumulatively replace his contributions.
Mamukelashvili certainly helps from the shooting perspective, but outside of that, there aren't all that many similarities between the two players.
Mamukelashvili is more of a true modern big than the hybrid forward that Hachimura has become. He can attack for straight-line finishes, but his drives rely more on being crafty, while Hachimura benefits from his explosiveness.
Perhaps the biggest difference, however, is that while Hachimura thrived in his outlined role away from the ball, Mamukelashvili is more involved in plays—a truth JJ Redick will hopefully adapt to.
Sandro Mamukelashvili doesn't need to play Rui Hachimura's role
Mamukelashvili finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 offensive boards, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.4 three-point field goals made in 21.9 minutes per game. He did so while shooting efficiently at a clip of .523/.389/.747.
For what it's worth: Mamukelashvili's production translated to 18.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 offensive boards, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.4 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Suppose Mamukelashvili is unable to do everything that Hachimura did, but provides that type of production to the Lakers. In no way would what he's bringing to the table be insufficient, as the Lakers would be hard-pressed to find a backup center or power forward who can offer those versatile offensive numbers.
Beyond the statistics, Mamukelashvili does an excellent job of asserting himself in a way that doesn't detract from the stars' intentions, but instead keeps him positioned to make his mark.
Sandro Mamukelashvili is his own player with well-rounded value
Hachimura deserves credit for playing the role he was asked to, but he faded into the background at times on offense. Mamukelashvili not only shoots freely, but works the baseline well, keeps active feet along the perimeter to give his playmakers options, and is a perhaps underrated passer.
Mamukelashvili is also an efficient finisher inside who gets his buckets differently than Hachimura, as he uses his size to position himself near or in the paint rather than having to dribble into traffic.
It's worked well for him, as Mamukelashvili shot 7.3 percent better than the league average within eight feet of the rim. That could offer a new wrinkle to a Lakers offense that's needed ways to generate efficient offense without tasking the stars with elaborate drives or contested jumpers.
Mamukelashvili may ultimately fail if he's forced to play like Hachimura, but if he's allowed to play like himself, then he should reward the Lakers for their investment.
Add us as a preferred source on Google