With only one movable first-round pick at their disposal, the Los Angeles Lakers face a critical decision ahead of the NBA trade deadline: reinforce the frontcourt or upgrade their faltering perimeter defense.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel believes the answer is clear. In a speculative three-team blockbuster involving the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies, Siegel proposed that the Lakers should pivot fully toward perimeter defense—an area identified internally as a roster weakness—and target Miami forward Andrew Wiggins as their top 3-and-D solution.
The framework hinges on Memphis sending two-time All-Star Ja Morant to Miami, while the Lakers receive Wiggins as part of a larger redistribution of players and draft assets.
Proposed Three-Team Blockbuster Would Deliver Wiggins to Los Angeles
Under Siegel’s proposal, the teams would exchange the following:
Miami Heat receive: G Ja Morant, F Rui Hachimura, G/F John Konchar, G Gabe Vincent
Los Angeles Lakers receive: F Andrew Wiggins
Memphis Grizzlies receive: G Davion Mitchell, F Jaime Jaquez Jr., F Simone Fontecchio, G Terry Rozier (expiring contract), MIA 2029 1st-round pick, MIA 2030 1st-round swap, LAL 2031 1st-round pick
Siegel wrote that Miami would view acquiring Morant as a “no-brainer,” noting that sending Wiggins to the Lakers could net the Heat an additional first-round pick, Hachimura, and Vincent in return.
“Los Angeles has long held interest in Wiggins dating back to the offseason, but whether they part with their future first-round pick to land him is the big question for the Lakers,” Siegel wrote.
Rob Pelinka Signals Lakers Will Use Pick Only for a Championship-Level Move
Lakers president and general manager Rob Pelinka previously acknowledged the team’s limited flexibility but said the front office remains willing to deploy its sole first-round pick—2030 or 2031—if a deal meaningfully improves their championship odds.
“If a transaction comes to us that leads to sustained Lakers excellence and puts us in a position to increase our odds of winning a championship, we would put future draft capital into making that move,” Pelinka said in September.
Wiggins, 30, appears to fit the criteria. His blend of size, athleticism and wing defense has kept him on Los Angeles’ radar for months.
Lakers Have Quietly Monitored Wiggins for Months
GettyAndrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat handles the ball against Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Lakers have been tracking Wiggins’ availability since early in the season.
“We’ve also heard for some time now that the Lakers know they need some improvements on the wing as well, and Wiggins has been a name that they are monitoring if Miami were to make him available,” Fischer said in his NBA Insider Notebook livestream on Bleacher Report in November.
Wiggins is averaging 16.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals while shooting 37.9% from three—production that would immediately lighten the defensive burden on Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves while further boosting their offense.
Financially, Wiggins’ four-year, $109 million contract—$28.2 million this season with a 2026–27 player option—sits in the sweet spot for the Lakers operating slightly under the first apron.
Fischer has previously reported that a Lakers package centered on Hachimura and Vincent would be enough to match salary.
Miami Has Explored Moving Wiggins Before
Wiggins has not been treated as untouchable since he arrived in Miami last season from the Jimmy Butler trade. ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin reported in June that the Heat and Lakers discussed a framework involving Wiggins and Hachimura, though talks stalled when Miami sought more assets.
NBA insider Marc Stein also noted that Wiggins appeared in conversations with the Phoenix Suns before they shipped Kevin Durant to Houston—further signaling Miami’s openness to exploring options.
Lakers Remain Patient as Roster Stabilizes
Despite the interest, Los Angeles is not expected to rush. Fischer reported the Lakers remain in “wait-and-see mode” as the team gets healthier and evaluates its balance with James back and Deandre Ayton providing stronger-than-expected production.
“See what this group really looks like before they push their chips in,” Fischer reported.
That leaves the defining question of the Lakers’ trade season: Will Pelinka and the Lakers pony up their lone first-round pick now for Wiggins—or wait until the offseason, when they could have as many as three first-round picks to pursue a bigger star?
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