The modern NBA is a ruthless ecosystem driven entirely by spacing, versatility, and the holy grail of floor-general frontcourt shooting. For the Toronto Raptors, realizing that vision last season was made infinitely easier by the unexpected emergence of Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Operating seamlessly at both the four and the five, Mamukelashvili gave Toronto a completely unique tactical dimension, splashing home 38.9% of his 3.7 attempts from beyond the arc per game during their gritty playoff push against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But as the frantic dust settles on the offseason, Mamukelashvili has packed his bags for the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, leaving a glaring, high-value void in the frontcourt rotation that head coach Darko Rajaković must somehow fill.
The Kyle Anderson Gap and the Allen Graves Gamble
In the wake of Mamukelashvili’s departure, the Raptors have pivoted toward alternative solutions. While veteran acquisition Kyle Anderson boasts a respectable career shooting touch, he simply doesn’t offer the same volumetric pressure or defensive gravity that Mamukelashvili commanded from deep.
Instead, all eyes are locked firmly on rookie draft steal Allen Graves. During his standout college career, Graves flashed incredible potential by scorching the nets at a 41.3% clip on 2.6 attempts per game from long distance. If those collegiate shooting mechanics seamlessly translate to the grueling speed and physicality of the NBA, Graves is the most natural, logical heir to Mamukelashvili’s production.
Encouragingly, early flashes during his summer league stint offered a tantalizing glimpse of what he can do. Yet, summer circuits are a far cry from executing under the bright lights against elite, veteran-laden defenders night in and night out.
Why Floor Spacing is the Ultimate Key for Scottie Barnes
The math in today’s league is simple: playing two non-shooting frontcourt players side-by-side is an offensive nightmare, especially when the rest of the roster’s perimeter shooting remains a work in progress.
If Graves fails to immediately establish himself as a trusted floor spacer during his rookie campaign, Toronto’s offensive ceiling could hit a frustrating ceiling. Without a reliable stretch big, the burden of spacing the floor would fall heavily onto the shoulders of Immanuel Quickley, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamison Battle, Alijah Martin, and marquee addition Kawhi Leonard. That leaves precious little breathing room for franchise cornerstone Scottie Barnes to operate inside the paint and carve up defenses.
However, if Graves proves he can knock down triples with consistency, the offensive possibilities open up exponentially. A reliable perimeter jumper would make his fit alongside Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, or Jakob Poeltl completely seamless, unlocking lethal, highly switchable defensive lineups that would otherwise look too clunky to survive in the halfcourt.
Beyond his shooting, Graves arrived in Toronto with a reputation as a notoriously disruptive, high-IQ defender. If his defensive instincts translate and his 3-point stroke clicks, he won’t just replace Mamukelashvili—he could quickly evolve into an even more dangerous, long-term weapon. The margin for error is razor-thin, but if the Allen Graves vision fully unfolds, the Raptors won’t miss a beat.
