Taking advantage of their opportunities to improve their roster will be key for the Boston Celtics this summer. Brad Stevens didn’t hide his feelings about where the team stands amongst the league’s other contenders when he spoke to the media earlier this month.
The Celtics have to get better.
“I've got a little sign above my desk that says, 'What do you want? What's true? And how do you get there?'” Stevens told reporters at the Auerbach Center. "There's no question what we want. There's no question when you look at what's true, we did a lot of good things. [But] we lost in the first round, and we were also 3-11 against the top three seeds in the West and the other top two in the East. So, we've got to get better.”
For the first time in years, Boston will have the full $15 million mid-level exception at their disposal when free agency rolls around in July. The obvious area for improvement is the frontcourt, as it seems Nikola Vucevic has played his final game for the Cs.
Toronto Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili could be a great budget option for Boston. The 27-year-old has a $2.6 million player-option for next season, and would be wise to test the market and ride the wave of an impressive 2025-26 campaign.
Mamukelashvili finished 10th in Sixth Man of the Year voting after averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game on 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from beyond the arc.
It’s too soon to tell exactly what his market will be, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him within the Celtics’ price range. They may even be able to sign him for lower than the full MLE.
What would Sandro Mamukelashvili bring to the Celtics?
Mamu’s versatile game would make him a great option next to Neemias Queta and Luka Garza -- either playing alongside them, or serving as a unique rotational option for Joe Mazzulla.
He’s proven to be a reliable three-point threat over the past two seasons, first shooting 37.3% on 2.6 attempts in 2024-25, then 38.9% on 3.7 attempts last year. He isn’t afraid to put the ball on the floor to attack closeouts.
Stevens spoke a lot about wanting more dunks next season. Well, Mamukelashvili threw down 47 slams for the Raptors last season.
Against the Celtics, in particular, Mamu had himself a season. He posted 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on 64.9%/56.3% shooting splits. It wouldn’t be the first time that Boston’s front office went out and acquired a player who’d lit them up.
Mamu isn’t a perfect player, though. He’s slightly undersized to be a “true center” and would have to be more of a small-ball five for the Cs, though Toronto saw some success with him as the lone big man this season.
Defensively, the five-year veteran is pretty average. His regular-season advanced metrics were solid, but they dipped in the postseason, as did his playing time.
That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be able to fit within Boston’s defensive system or improve on that end of the floor. It could happen.
Depending on what the contract looks like, Mamu could be a great signing for the Celtics if he opts out this summer. He’d give them an extra option in the frontcourt, who regularly contributed to winning in Toronto this past season.
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