The Los Angeles Lakers have completely overhauled their roster from the team that just made the second round three months ago. The entire starting lineup from their first round win over the Houston Rockets is gone, and players like Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili have taken their place around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Mamukelashvili is a particularly interesting signing. The Georgian big man is coming off of a career year with the Toronto Raptors, and figures to be a more well-rounded replacement to Rui Hachimura. The 27-year-old gave his thoughts on the Lakers and why he wanted to join the purple and gold.
“First of all, like I said, the organization is very high-level,” Mamukelashvili said in his first media availability. “So many championships, so many great players. I know we play at Crypto Arena, but growing up watching them play at Staples Center, having this purple and gold jersey, it just means a lot.
“I understand that it’s the biggest stage, it’s the best organization, and I just gotta go out there and be ready. You can’t run away from the spotlight, the best thing to have is coming out there every day, having the best fans in the world supporting you and making sure you’re playing with the best players. I think it’s a great step in my career. I fit what they’re doing, I love what the coaching staff is and I love what they preach. I think playing with superstars like Austin and Luka Doncic, it’s just gonna help me get better and be a better player. I think those were the reasons, and as I said, growing up watching Kobe and all those players, the Lakers are a household name. It’s unbelievable to be here and have a jersey.”
The appeal of being a Laker and wearing the purple and gold has always been a draw that has helped the franchise out. It’s allowed them to land free agents from the very top to the very bottom of the totem pole, and clearly played a role in the signing of Mamukelashvili.
He figures to fit relatively well next to Doncic and Reaves, with those two marking arguably the best teammates he has ever played with. Those things, combined with the pride of being a Laker and a four-year guarantee on his contract, made his choice likely an easy one.
Quentin Grimes discusses offseason work for Lakers
Grimes represented the second biggest new addition of the Lakers offseason in terms of guaranteed money. He received a four-year, $60 million contract from L.A., and is slated to be the team’s starting guard next to Reaves. He discussed the offseason work he’s doing to prepare for his role in L.A.
“I knew I was gonna have a little more bigger offensive role,” Grimes said on Mason & Ireland on ESPN LA Radio. “Gotta know who you’re playing with, Luka he sets you up anywhere on the court so just making sure I’m in those corners, getting those corner 3s up. But also, I know I have the ball in my hands a lot coming off pick-and-rolls, making plays.
“I feel like my last two seasons in Dallas and Philly I was able to kind of show my whole package offensively. Making reads, whether that’s creating shots for me or creating shots for my teammates. So I feel like knowing that, coming into that I’ve been working on that the whole time and getting work in with the couple of player development guys already so it’s been phenomenal honestly.”
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