The Raptors are mere days out from having to address a glaring Sandro Mamukelashvili offseason question, as they have until Tuesday evening to to work out an extension before he hits the open market.
Last offseason, Mamu was largely the Raptors' key offseason addition outside of the 2025 draft classmen joining Toronto's ranks, and that cheap $5.5 million swing deal proved to pay off in a massive way this past year. Mamukelashvili was key for Toronto as he brought a dynamic big man skillset to the Raptors bench.
But where things stand now, Toronto could be inches away from losing Mamu to free agency, which means they should have a contingency plan in case he walks. Recent first-round pick Allen Graves could be a good candidate to start those conversations.
May I suggest another one of those potential answers to step up as another underrated summer pickup: Moritz Wagner of the Orlando Magic.
Raptors should consider Moritz Wagner as their next Mamukelashvili-like free agency addition
NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer wrote in their "Saturday Afternoon Briefing Edition" report on June 27 (subscription-required link here):
"Another big man who could be on the move this summer: Orlando's Moe Wagner.
Sources say Wagner projects to have multiple suitors in free agency and a willingness to play elsewhere even though his brother Franz obviously remains a Magic cornerstone."
Now, Moe Wagner isn't exactly a spitting image of Sandro Mamukelashvili in terms of player archetypes, but if we're pondering similar bargain big man swings who could eventually morph into key Raptors pieces — Wagner can be just that.
While Mamu is more of a floor-spacing forward with solid playmaking ability as a big, the elder Wagner brother is more well-versed as a energetic rim-runner and roll man threat. His ability to draw fouls at his position too is an underrated element of his game, and Wagner can also occasionally hit the three-ball as a passable shooter (though not as high of a volume to Sandro Mamukelashvili).
Wagner isn't exactly a defensive maestro at his position, but where he could give Toronto an added edge as opposed to Mamu is the ability to use his burly 6-foot-11, 245-pound frame to play physical and gritty. Despite suffering a major setback in his career with an ACL tear in December 2024, he's worked hard to get back on the court and try to still impact the game however he can.
While the report states there could be "multiple suitors" for Moe Wagner, I don't imagine the asking price will be that high, so Toronto can be firmly in that mix to acquire him. Sometimes all it takes is getting a player to buy into a winning culture and identity, like the Raptors did last year with Mamu — and the deal is sealed.
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