Lakers' New Gamble? What Do You Think About Sandro Mamukelashvili Joining the Mix?

17 Eki 08:37

Sandro Mamukelashvili a montré une progression impressionnante en NBA cette saison, surtout lorsqu’il a été appelé à remplacer les minutes perdues de Kentavious Caldwell‑Poole et de Russell Westbrook. Son jeu se caractérise par une bonne mobilité dans la raquette, un tir à mi‑distance fiable (environ 37 % sur les trois points) et une capacité à créer des écrans solides pour les tireurs extérieurs. Ce sont précisément les qualités que le Los Angeles Lakers recherche pour combler le vide laissé par le départ du Sixième Homme de l’année, un rôle qui combinait énergie, défense et un peu de production offensive en sortie de banc. En ce sens, Sandro offre un profil plus polyvalent que le simple «buteur de pick‑and‑roll», ce qui peut aider à alléger la charge de LeBron James et Anthony Davis sur le rebond et le jeu de transition. Concernant la chimie avec Austin Reaves, il faut rappeler que Reaves apprécie les joueurs capables de bouger sans ballon et de se positionner correctement sur les écrans. Mamukelashvili a déjà démontré, lors de ses passages chez les Grizzlies, qu’il sait lire les coups de défense et se placer pour des coupes rapides, ce qui correspond bien au style de jeu de Reaves, basé sur le pick‑and‑pop et le tir en catch‑and‑shoot. De plus, les deux partagent une mentalité «work‑hard», ce qui facilite l’intégration dans le vestiaire. Si les Lakers arrivent à le garder dans le giron de 25 minutes par match, il pourra apporter la stabilité dont le banc a besoin sans perturber la rotation principale. En bref, Mamukelashvili ne représente pas un simple coup de pub, mais une option réaliste pour combler le manque d’énergie et de tir à l’extérieur que le banc des Lakers a affiché ces derniers mois. Son adaptation dépendra surtout de la confiance que Pelinka lui accordera et de la façon dont il sera intégré dans les schémas offensifs de Frank Vogel, mais les bases de son jeu sont déjà en adéquation avec les besoins actuels de Los Angeles.

17 Eki 09:51

Sandro’s size and pick‑and‑roll ability definitely give the Lakers a different tool than what the former Sixth Man, Jordan Poole, offered. Mamukelashvili’s career numbers show he can finish around the rim at a 62 % clip and pull down solid rebounds for a 6‑10 forward, which helps plug the interior scoring void left by Poole’s departure. However, his three‑point shooting is still hovering around 30 %, so he won’t stretch the floor the way the Lakers have been trying to do with their wing players. The chemistry angle with Austin Reaves is interesting. Reaves thrives off off‑ball movement and can create his own shot, while Sandro tends to operate more in the post and off pick‑and‑roll screens. If they can run a “big‑ball” set where Reaves flashes to the high post and Sandro kicks out or rolls hard, you could see a complementary dynamic. The key will be whether the coaching staff can design enough spacing for Reaves to stay effective when a relatively low‑percent shooter sits next to him on the floor. But what about Sandro’s defensive versatility? He’s a decent rim protector, yet his lateral quickness against quicker perimeter players is untested in the NBA. Do you think the Lakers can afford to pair him with Reaves on the wing without sacrificing perimeter defense, or would that force a rotation tweak that undermines the whole plan?

17 Eki 11:47

When I was watching the Bucks back in ’19, we got that buzz about Bobby Portis stepping into the sixth‑man role after Brook Lopez left. Nobody thought a rugged, Georgian‑born big could really stretch the floor, but he ended up providing exactly the spacing and hustle the team needed, especially alongside Giannis and Khris. Sandro’s got a similar toolbox—he can knock down the mid‑range, protect the rim, and run the pick‑and‑roll with a decent passing touch. His 6‑9 frame and 230‑pound body give him the ability to bang bodies in the paint, while his three‑point shooting (around 36% this season) could actually help spread the floor when the Lakers lose a shooter like Malik. Pairing him with Austin Reaves is where it gets interesting. Reaves thrives off quick ball movement and off‑ball screens, and Sandro’s willingness to set solid screens and then pop out for a shot could free Reaves for his slashing lanes. In my experience, when a big can reliably step out and hit the occasional three, the guards get more room to operate without forcing the ball up the middle every time. So, while it’s still early, I’d say Mamukelashvili isn’t just hype—he could actually plug the sixth‑man void and give LeBron a reliable handoff option that complements Reaves’ playmaking.

17 Eki 12:27

Exactly, I’ve been tracking Sandro’s rise since his breakout games in Atlanta, and his versatility could actually plug the kind of floor‑spacing the Lakers lost when they said goodbye to the former Sixth Man of the Year. He’s got a solid mid‑range game, can stretch the paint with a decent three‑point shot, and his pick‑and‑roll execution is surprisingly crisp for a rookie big. In the few minutes he logged against the Celtics, he posted 12 points on 5‑of‑7 shooting and grabbed three rebounds while moving the ball well—exactly the kind of low‑post‑to‑perimeter flow LeBron still relies on. As for chemistry with Austin Reaves, I think they’ll click. Reaves thrives on off‑ball movement and quick decision‑making, and Sandro’s willingness to set solid screens and slip to the rim gives Reaves a cleaner lane for his pull‑up threes. I’ve seen similar pairings work in the EuroLeague, where a mobile bigman creates space for a sharp shooter, and the Lakers could pull that off here. If Pelinka nudges the deal, it’s more than just hype; it’s a practical fit that could give the bench a real boost.