The Los Angeles Lakers’ potential pursuit of Andrew Wiggins comes with a major obstacle: Miami’s steep asking price, according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints. Irwin’s report comes on the heels of longtime NBA insider Marc Stein’s earlier assessment that the Lakers could have interest if the Heat shift their priorities.
“One story, and the one that I heard more directly, was that the Miami Heat were asking for Rui Hachimura,” Irwin said on the Sept. 8 episode of his podcast The Lakers Lounge. “They were asking for a first-round pick, Gabe Vincent, and potentially Dalton Knecht. The Lakers would probably be fine moving off Dalton or Vincent for Wiggins, and maybe even Rui, but they definitely did not want to include Rui and the first-round pick together. That’s where the talks broke down.”
As it currently stands, the Lakers only have very limited draft capital: one first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and their 2032 second-round pick.
Jovan Buha also earlier described the Heat’s asking price as “steep,” including a first-round pick and Knecht.
Other reports have varied on the Lakers’ level of interest.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported the Lakers were not actively pursuing Wiggins earlier this offseason, while the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson reported that Miami plans to retain Wiggins, with Jackson noting that “nothing” offered so far has been “enticing.”
Stein: Lakers Could Revisit Wiggins If Heat Seeks Flexibility
Getty Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat controls the ball against Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
Stein offered context on Los Angeles’ potential interest in Wiggins, an All-Star wing who was the second-best player in the Golden State Warriors‘ championship run in 2022.
“I don’t think that means they’ll swing a deal for just anyone between now and the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but league sources say L.A. would indeed have interest in adding a two-way swingman who can raise their ceiling,” Stein wrote in his The Stein Line newsletter. “The sort of player who is likely to interest the Lakers? My read (if Miami were to make him available): Andrew Wiggins. So my sense is that the Lakers would have interest if the Heat, in coming weeks or months, decide to prioritize financial flexibility and look to reduce payroll.”
Championship Aspirations Drive Lakers
A two-way wing like Wiggins fits perfectly alongside LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, and Hachimura. Buha said such a move could elevate the Lakers to the Western Conference’s elite tier.
“The Lakers, with the right move, can vault themselves up to the Tier 1 [of NBA title teams] and have a legit chance to win a championship,” Buha said on the Sept. 9 episode of his podcast. “If the Lakers were to get Andrew Wiggins, or a player of that ilk — a two-way wing who can guard multiple positions, including backcourt players and wings, and take that burden off LeBron, Luka, Austin, and Rui — that’s the ideal complement to Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura.”
Buha added that the ideal scenario would allow the Lakers to acquire Wiggins while keeping Hachimura in the rotation, strengthening both the first and second units.
Trade Feasibility Remains Uncertain
Until Miami signals a willingness to move Wiggins without demanding excessive assets, talks are stalled. The Lakers’ interest depends on whether the Heat shift focus toward financial flexibility, creating a rare opportunity to acquire a top-tier two-way wing.
The Lakers continue to evaluate roster options, balancing championship ambitions with financial and positional flexibility. Adding a player like Wiggins could transform their roster, but for now, the Heat’s asking price remains the key obstacle.
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