​With the NBA’s annual free agent moratorium period now concluded, the Los Angeles Lakers are turning their attention to the concrete tasks of finalizing the deals they recently agreed to. The trade that sent center Deandre Ayton, who started for them this past season, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks has been completed. In addition, the Lakers have officially inked guard Quentin Grimes and big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to the contracts they agreed to last Wednesday.
Grimes reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal, while Mamukelashvili accepted a four-year contract worth $52 million. Grimes will wear number 5 for the Lakers, and Mamukelashvili will don number 54. The club has long sought players who can provide meaningful two-way contributions on the wings, and Grimes is expected to help fill that need. He is a relatively athletic 6-foot-5 guard who can score off the dribble and offers solid defense against opposing guards. His shooting consistency from beyond the arc has varied from season to season, but he has always demonstrated a proficiency from the corners. This past season, Grimes, who turned 26 in May, averaged 13.4 points per game on 45.0 percent shooting overall and 33.4 percent from three-point range while with the Philadelphia 76ers. Over his five-year NBA career, he has a 3-point shooting percentage of 36.6 percent, and according to basketball-reference.com, he has converted 44.5 percent of his corner three-point attempts.
Mamukelashvili, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward who can function as a versatile 4/5, began to emerge as a productive option for the Toronto Raptors this past season. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes per game, shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three-point range during the 2025-26 campaign. He is a mobile big man who can handle the ball and create scoring opportunities in both transition and half-court sets, and he can deliver decent passes to maintain and enhance offensive sequences.
This move signals the Lakers’ commitment to reshaping their roster around more versatile wing players and interior scoring options. Grimes’ ability to contribute defensively and stretch the floor could complement a lineup that aims to be more dynamic and balanced on both ends of the floor. Mamukelashvili’s size and skill set add another dimension, providing frontcourt depth that can stretch defenses with shooting and help stabilize the team’s interior production.
Together, Grimes and Mamukelashvili bring a blend of shooting, mobility, and playmaking that should help the Lakers address the gaps that have hampered them in recent seasons. As the team integrates these new pieces, fans will be watching closely to see how the pair meshes with the Lakers’ established rotation and how their presence impacts the club’s defensive schemes and offensive rhythm during the upcoming campaign.