New Toronto Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili will be representing Georgia in EuroBasket this summer, giving fans their first look at what could be an important piece of their organization’s future. Obviously, Mamukelaishili isn’t exactly a big-name signing, but he may end up playing crucial minutes for next season’s Raptors squad, and EuroBasket will give fans a little taste of what’s to come.
Chris Boucher just signed with the Boston Celtics in free agency, and the Raptors recently released Colin Castleton. That leaves Mamukelashvili as the obvious favorite to be Jakob Poeltl’s full-time backup, and that could be a perfect opportunity for him to show off his skill set.
Mamukelashvili has plenty to bring to the table.
What can Sandro Mamukelashvili bring to Raptors?
Mamukelashvili will join Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze on the Georgian national team looking to compete against some of the biggest powerhouses in international basketball this summer.
They’ll be squaring off against Nikola Jokic’s Serbia, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece, Franz Wagner’s Germany, and Luka Doncic’s Slovenia, among other nations such as Spain, France, and Turkey.
There is a ton of NBA talent in Europe for EuroBasket this summer, so if Mamukelashvili manages to stand out amongst the pack, it would certainly be a welcomed sight for Raptors fans.
Toronto looks poised to compete for a playoff spot next season, and while Poeltl will almost certainly be their full-time starting center, Mamukelashvili will probably play important minutes for them.
He’s a very unique center, as he played with the ball in his hands a lot in college at Seton Hall. Mamukelashvili can put the ball on the floor, create for others, and he even took a leap as a three-point threat this past season.
A new home in Toronto could be exactly what the Georgian big man needs to finally break through in the NBA, and all of that could start at EuroBasket this summer.
Raptors fans should keep a close eye on how Mamukelashvili performs, as it could be a window into how he may fare with the Raptors next season.
He’ll get the chance to create for Georgia alongside Bitadze, and he’ll also get experience guarding some of the best big men in the NBA, from Antetokounmpo to Jokic to Kristaps Porzingis to Alperen Sengun.
Obviously, how Mamukelashvili performs at EuroBasket is not a clear-cut indicator as to how he will fare in Toronto, but at the very least, it will be a fun sneak peek for Raptors fans hoping to see him thrive in a new environment up north.