The Miami Heat have enjoyed a respectable offseason. After missing out on Kevin Durant, Pat Riley pivoted to add Norman Powell to the rotation. He also added Kasparas Jakucionis via the draft.
However, there is always room for additional improvements. And, in a recent three-team trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, those improvements come in the form of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht. Of course, the hypothetical trade would see Andrew Wiggins head to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Pincus’ full trade idea looks like this:
Lakers Get: Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Drew Timme
Miami Heat Get: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and a $10 million trade exception for trading Wiggins
Brooklyn Nets Get: Maxi Kleber, a 2026 second-round pick from Miami, $4.6 million in cash from Miami and $2 million in cash from the Lakers.
“Hachimura, who is on an expiring deal, is eligible for an extension if he proves to be a strong fit,” Pincus wrote. “He’s a better shooter than Wiggins, and more of a natural power forward (often playing out of position for the Lakers). Knecht is also a shooting upgrade over Jaquez. Neither was outstanding last year, but the former has a longer runway on his contract, going into his second season.”
While losing Wiggins would be a tough blow for the Heat, the proposed deal would see the roster get younger and become more dynamic. That could appeal to Erik Spoelstra, as he gears up for what is projected to be a tough season in Miami.
Heat Have High Asking Price For Wiggins
According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, the Heat’s asking price in discussions over Wiggins has been rather high.
“One story and the one that I heard more directly was that the Miami Heat were asking for Rui Hachimura,” Irwin said on his podcast, The Lakers Lounge. “They were asking for a first-round pick. They were asking for Gabe Vincent, whom they like, and potentially also Dalton Knecht. The Lakers, I think, would be fine moving on from Dalton for Wiggins. They would obviously also be fine moving on from Gabe Vincent for Andrew Wiggins.”
Irwin continued.
“And I also think they would probably be mostly fine moving off of Rui Hachimura for Andrew Wiggins, but they definitely did not want to include Rui and the one first-round pick that they can move this season. And so that was where again I heard directly that those talks kind of broke down.”
If Riley can adjust his asking price, the Heat could potentially get more than a fair return in a deal to move on from Wiggins.
Wiggins’ Defense Makes Him Desirable
A key reason why Wiggins is seen as such a viable addition to a contending roster is his overall defensive ability. He was a key piece in the Golden State Warriors‘ push for the 2022 NBA championship. His defensive versatility and willingness to guard the opponent’s best player gave Golden State an edge.
The Lakers clearly want to tap into that skill set. When Wiggins is healthy and locked in, he’s a highly impactful player who could help plug some gaps on the Lakers’ current roster. Pairing him with Marcus Smart would give the Lakers some much-needed defensive versatility.
Of course, the Heat will have an idea of what they want in return. But if a deal can be reached, it could potentially benefit everyone involved.
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