That $19.4 Million Sandro Mamukelashvili Is Chasing? Mike Gansey Might Have the Inside Track.

Alright, fam, listen up. Free agency is about to blow wide open this Tuesday, and we're talking big money for a guy who just had a breakout season: Sandro Mamukelashvili. He's got a player option for a cool $2.8 million this summer, but let's be real, he's almost certainly going to decline that bad boy and test the waters. Why? Because John Hollinger's BORD$ valuation model pegs him at a whopping $19.4 million. That's a serious pay bump, and guess who might have the inside track to land him? The Sixers, thanks to their new president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey. This isn't just about cash, it's about connections, and the NBA is all about those behind-the-scenes plays!

It's Not Just About the Benjamins, It's About Buddies

You hear it all the time: the NBA is a money-first league. Always has been, always will be. But don't sleep on the business of relationships, because that's a *very* close second. And this is where Gansey and the Sixers come into play with Mamukelashvili. See, Sandro's agent is George Roussakis of Priority Sports & Entertainment. And who's a high-profile name at Priority Sports? Mark Bartelstein, that's who. Here's the kicker: the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Gansey used to be an assistant general manager, have a *long* history with Priority Sports clients. Seriously, it's wild how many connections pop up when you look. Let's just run through the recent history real quick. Thomas Bryant and Larry Nance Jr. were Cavaliers last season, both Priority Sports guys. José Calderón, a Bartelstein client, is literally a special advisor for the Cavaliers right now. Then, just this past season, the Cavs went

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out and acquired Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, both Bartelstein clients, before the trade deadline. And get this: the Cavs traded for Caris LeVert while Gansey was still an assistant GM with the franchise. Even Georges Niang signed with the Cavaliers as a free agent in 2023, and they drafted Dylan Windler in 2019, also during Gansey's tenure as assistant general manager. It's a pattern, folks, and Gansey knows this playbook inside and out.

The $19.4 Million Question and Mamukelashvili's Game

So, Mamukelashvili's looking at declining his $2.8 million option and testing that $19.4 million projection. That projected number is within shouting distance of the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, a resource the Sixers absolutely have access to. Now, nobody's saying Roussakis and Mamukelashvili are gonna take a discount, but who's to say Hollinger's model is 100% accurate, right? This guy just had a breakout season after being a deep bench reserve for *four years*. He doesn't have a rich track record that makes teams eager to just fork over that kind of cash without a second thought. But here's why he's so intriguing: Mamukelashvili might be a tad undersized for center, but he definitely has the mass to be a prominent power forward. And the real juice? He shot 39% on 3.7 three-pointers per game this past season. That's a bonafide stretch big right there, a guy who could totally space the floor for Philadelphia out of primary and secondary actions. So, when free agency kicks off this Tuesday, all eyes are on Sandro Mamukelashvili. Will Gansey's deep-seated agent relationships pay off for the Sixers? Will that $19.4 million valuation hold up? Get ready, because the behind-the-scenes NBA action is about to get real, real fast!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.