The Miami Heat are not interested in taking back just expiring contracts in a potential Andrew Wiggins trade, per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel. The update means the Los Angeles Lakers — who reportedly pursued Wiggins last offseason — could face a challenge in landing the veteran 3-and-D wing.
“Miami has continued to signal that it won’t be dumping Wiggins for expiring contracts, as it would want real value in the form of a future first-round pick and a player or two who could immediately contribute to its playoff pursuit,” Siegel reported on Nov. 28.
The Lakers have only one tradeable first-round pick, and an abundance of expiring contracts — Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes. Furthermore, Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton own player options for 2026-27 and are not guaranteed to stay with the Lakers for the long haul.
Lakers Prioritizing Cap Space
In an ideal world, the Lakers would prefer to use Hachimura, Vincent and Kleber’s expiring contracts in a deal not just for Wiggins, but also for other players they will target ahead of the February 5 trade deadline. They don’t, however, have young players or draft assets that teams such as the Thunder, Spurs and Rockets possess in droves.
The Lakers could open up more than $60 million in cap space in 2026 — if they let all their free agents, including Austin Reaves, walk. While the Lakers and Reaves are expected to agree to a new deal, the jury is still out on Hachimura, per insiders.
Lakers Need Wing Defenders
JJ Redick’s team could definitely benefit from replacing Hachimura with Wiggins in the starting unit. While Hachimura has averaged a career-high 14.8 points at an impressive 48.5% shooting from three, he has been a defensive liability for the most part, with the Lakers giving up 116.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.
One anonymous scout feels that a starting unit of Hachimura, Reaves, Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton can’t win a title.
“A starting five of Luka [Doncic], Austin [Reaves], LeBron [James], Rui [Hachimura] and Deandre [Ayton] is not competing for a championship,” the NBA exec told Lakers Daily’s Ashish Mathur.
“That’s five guys who can’t play a lick of defense. LeBron can do it a little when he tries, but he’s 40, man. Give him some slack and trade for a guy like Jones who can cover for him, Austin and Luka.”
The scout advised the Lakers to target New Orleans Pelicans wing Herb Jones, though Wiggins also fits the archetype of a quality wing defender who can shoot open threes.
“As currently constructed, the Lakers will get waxed by Denver, OKC and Houston because they don’t have athletic defenders on the perimeter,” added the scout.
“They need a stout defender who can also hit 3s. Herb fits that bill perfectly and New Orleans is open for business.”
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