Raptors sign free agent Sandro Mamukelashvili

The center position will be in good hands next season as the Raptors add “Mamu”

The Raptors have officially entered the chat in terms of the free agency market!

Only a few minutes ago, news broke that the Raptors have agreed to a deal with Sandro Mamukelashvili.

The two-year deal is worth $5.5 million, with a player option in the second year.

Standing at 6’9”, Mamukelashvilli or “Mamu” as he is often referred to by fans, is a reliable big man who will be an excellent second option behind Poeltl in the lineup, shoring up a shortage in that position that has been an issue for the Raptors over the last couple years.

Mamu made his start in the league with the Milwaukee Bucks on a two-way contract and spent a year and a half there before making his way to San Antonio. He has continuously improved his scoring and shooting efficiency, and looked impressive in the final games of the season as San Antonio embraced a tanking season. In April alone he averaged almost 10 points and 5 rebounds per game in only 19 minutes of action.

On the Raptors, he should fit in seamlessly. He isn’t seen as an elite rim protector, but is versatile enough that he can guard his man down low effectively. He can score from a variety of spots on the floor, finishing above league average around the basket, or from anywhere beyond the arc. He has the ability to initiate beyond the perimeter and is also continuously improving his shooting to help space the floor. Last year, he improved his 3-point shooting to 37%, up almost 10% on twice the volume from the prior year.

With the passing and ball movement ability of the current roster and offensive scheme, his ability to roll and be a threat off-ball should help create plenty of scoring opportunities.

If you are unfamiliar with his game, the highlights of his 34-point performance from March should be the first thing you check out:

For those of you who are already familiar with his game, this signing won’t seem surprising at all. In fact, even among our RaptorsHQ staff (looking at you JD) this has been anticipated for a while..

Either way, this is an excellent first step for the Raptors in the free agency market to solve one of the bigger issues in their depth chart. Although unexpected, it is definitely a welcome surprise and we can’t wait to see him suit up.