Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili Declines Player Option, Eyes Big Free Agency Payday

What’s Happening?

Toronto Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili has made a major career move. His agents, George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, informed ESPN’s Shams Charania that Sandro is turning down his $2.8 million player option for the 2026/27 season.

In simple terms: he had a contract that said, "If I stay next year, I get $2.8 million." He said, "No thanks — I think I’m worth more, and I’m going to bet on myself!"

Will the Raptors Keep Him?

The Raptors would love to re-sign him, but here’s the catch:

• Toronto is reportedly budgeting around $10 million per year to bring him back.
• They’d prefer to lock him up before free agency officially begins (Tuesday evening).
• However, other teams might be willing to offer even more.
• The Raptors are also reportedly chasing a Kawhi Leonard trade with the Clippers, which complicates how much money they can spend on Mamukelashvili.

It’s a bit like when you want to buy something but also need to save for something else at the same time — you can’t always have both!

Why Is This a Big Deal?

Sandro Had a Breakout Season

The 27-year-old had the best year of his career, and the numbers speak for themselves:

• 80 games played (13 starts)
• 11.2 points per game
• 4.9 rebounds per game
• 21.9 minutes per night
• Shot 52.3% from the field (that means he made more than half his shots!)
• Shot 38.9% from three-point range (pretty good for a big man)
• Earned a few votes for Sixth Man of the Year

Last season, he made only $2.5 million — which is called a "veteran’s minimum" contract. Think of it as the lowest salary a veteran player can get. This year, he’s expected to earn more than $10 million per season on a multiyear deal. That’s a huge jump!

How Did Sandro Get Here? (His Career Journey)

Let’s trace Sandro’s path to this big moment:

1. 2021: He started his NBA career on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. (A two-way contract means a player splits time between the NBA team and its minor league team, earning a smaller paycheck.)

2. March 2023: He was claimed off waivers by the San Antonio Spurs. (Being on "waivers" is like putting a player up for grabs — any team can pick him up.)

3. Summer 2025: He signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Raptors at the veteran’s minimum salary.

4. 2026: He broke out with career-best numbers — and now he’s poised for a much bigger contract.

What’s a Player Option, Anyway?

Important Point: A player option is a clause in a contract that lets the player decide whether they want to stay for the next year or become a free agent. If Sandro’s $2.8MM option was a team option, the Raptors would get to decide. But since it was his option, he got to choose — and he chose to test the open market instead.

Think of it like having a coupon for next year’s subscription: you can either use it (stay for $2.8M) or let it expire and shop around for a better deal.

What About Other Teams?

Some details that make this free agency interesting:

• Other teams wanting a big man who can shoot from the outside might pursue Sandro.
• These teams could use a chunk of the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception to make a competitive offer.
• That mid-level exception is basically a special "budget" teams over the salary cap can use to sign free agents — teams need to be smart about how they spend it.

So Sandro might not just be choosing between staying in Toronto vs. leaving — he could have multiple offers on the table!

Summary

• Sandro Mamukelashvili turned down his $2.8M player option with the Raptors.
• He’s coming off a breakout season averaging 11.2 PPG and 4.9 RPG on efficient shooting.
• Toronto wants to re-sign him at roughly $10M/year, but faces salary cap constraints — especially with a potential Kawhi Leonard trade in play.
• Other teams could swoop in with offers using the mid-level exception.
• This is a huge career moment for a player who started on a two-way contract just a few years ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a player option in the NBA?
A: It’s a clause in a contract that gives the player the choice to either continue with the contract for another year or become a free agent and shop around for a new deal.

Q: What does "claimed off waivers" mean?
A: When a team waives (releases) a player, other teams have a short window to "claim" him. The player joins the new team that picks him up, and his contract comes along with him.

Q: What is a two-way contract?
A: It’s a deal that allows a player to split time between the NBA team and its G League (minor league) affiliate. Players on two-way contracts earn less money and have fewer protections than fully rostered NBA players.

Q: Why would Sandro turn down guaranteed money?
A: He believes his market value is much higher than $2.8 million after his breakout season. By declining the option, he can negotiate a new deal — likely worth $10 million or more per year.

Q: What is the mid-level exception?
A: It’s a tool the NBA allows over-the-cap teams to use when signing free agents, even if they’re over the salary limit. The non-taxpayer mid-level exception is worth about $15 million, and teams can use it to offer competitive contracts to players in free agency.