The Los Angeles Lakers are bolstering their frontcourt by adding Sandro Mamukelashvili to join rookie Walker Kessler.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Mamukelashvili signed a four-year, $52 million deal with an option for his final season with the Lakers.
Mamukelashvili’s deal comes shortly after the Lakers agreed to sign Kessler with the Utah Jazz, who will join Los Angeles on a four-year, $130 million deal.
The moves for the Lakers come after they learned they would have more than $50 million in cap space following LeBron James’ announcement Tuesday that he will not return to Los Angeles next season.
One area the Lakers clearly needed to fill was the center position. Deandre Ayton agreeing to an $8.1 million salary for next season was not the answer after his disappointing 2025-26 campaign in Hollywood.
Kessler became something of a wild card after a season in which he played just five games for the Jazz due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. It’s not hard to imagine how he fits in as an on-ball threat playing alongside Luka Doncic.
Mamukelashvili is also an obvious addition for the Lakers. The 27-year-old had a breakout season with the Toronto Raptors in 2025-26, averaging 11.2 points per game and shooting 38.9 percent from three on 3.7 attempts.
The durable big man joining the lineup alongside Kessler, Doncic and Austin Reaves makes the Lakers look more well-rounded than they were last season. They also agreed to deals with Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton to fill out their bench.
The top of the Western Conference is occupied by the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, but the revamped Lakers should fit into that second division alongside the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets.
If things go in their favor next season, the Lakers will have the star power and depth to make the playoffs in their quest to win the NBA title for the first time since the 2019-20 season.