The Los Angeles Lakers are officially exploring their offseason options—and one target is raising eyebrows.
According to Anthony Irwin, the Lakers have checked in with the Miami Heat about a potential trade for Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins, recently acquired by Miami in the Jimmy Butler deal, could be flipped again after a frustrating postseason exit for both teams.
“The Lakers have checked in on him and asked about what the price would be,” Irwin said on Lakers Lounge. “I would imagine they are very well in tune with what Pat [Riley] thinks of Andrew Wiggins.”
Lakers Exploring Wing Options After Early Exit
The Lakers were bounced in five games by the Timberwolves in Round 1, despite having Luka Dončić and LeBron James on the floor. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat didn’t fare much better—getting swept by Cleveland in a series that exposed their thin depth after the Butler trade.
Wiggins, 30, is on a four-year, $109 million deal signed with the Golden State Warriors. He’s set to earn $28.2 million next season, with a player option worth $30.1 million in 2026–27.
He averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists this past season across stints with the Warriors and Heat. He shot 37.4% from three. And despite concerns about his contract, his fit on the wing next to LeBron and Luka is hard to ignore.
Lakers Could Wait, But Interest Is Real
Irwin suggested Wiggins might not be the Lakers’ top priority. The team still needs interior size and defense. But the front office has already started asking around. Miami’s openness to dealing Wiggins—after missing out on Kevin Durant—shows there’s room to negotiate.
“Now Wiggins does make a little too much money for my liking,” Irwin added. “But I think right now the Lakers are interested in any athlete.”
Wiggins was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Cavaliers, then traded for Kevin Love in the blockbuster Timberwolves deal. He won a title in 2022 with the Warriors and made his lone All-Star appearance that season.
New Ownership May Change the Math
There’s a new variable in L.A.: billionaire Mark Walter, who just bought majority ownership of the franchise from the Buss family in a reported $10 billion deal. Walter, who also owns the Dodgers, is known for deep pockets and aggressive team-building.
That could make the Lakers more willing to absorb Wiggins’ salary. If they believe he’s the kind of two-way player who can elevate their wing rotation, they might act. He could also take pressure off aging stars like LeBron.
For now, the interest is just exploratory. But the Lakers have made the call. And with the Heat motivated to keep reshuffling, this might not be the last we hear about Andrew Wiggins in purple and gold.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Lakers Reportedly Make Call on $109 Million Starting Wing Option appeared first on Heavy Sports.