The Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest need during the offseason will be at the center position, but the team could use another competent wing and a scoring threat. Perhaps they could find that in Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, who won a championship with the Golden State Warriors. Wiggins, who is widely regarded as one of the better defenders in the NBA, would be an excellent addition.
According to a report from Anthony Irwin, the Lakers and Heat have spoken about a potential trade involving Wiggins, making it possible that something could get done over the next few weeks to months.
âThe Lakers and Heat have continued their trade talks. I reported the other day that the Lakers checked in on Andrew Wiggins and negotiations have advanced from there. A deal isn’t imminent, but there’s been plenty of conversation on this front,â Irwin said on Wednesday.
Heat Are Looking to Move Wiggins
According to the Miami Herald, the Miami Heat are expected to make Wiggins available, and Barry Jackson said that Miami is very open to trading its wing, according to a source.Â
“The Heat is very open to trading Wiggins, according to a source. Removing his $30 million player option for 2026-27 from Miamiâs books, and replacing it with expiring contracts, would give Miami $45 million in cap space in the summer of 2026, with the ability to create more. Hachimura is due $18.2 million next season.”Â
He later added what a potential trade could look like, which included Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and more.
“The Heat would need to absorb additional salaries (Vincent or Kleiber) in that hypothetical transaction, with Wiggins due to make $28.2 million next season. Hachimura averaged 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in 59 games and 57 starts last season.
âAnother hypothetical permutation that would make sense: Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and Shake Milton for Wiggins, with Miami then re-routing Knecht to Charlotte in returns for Miamiâs 2027 or 2028 first-round pick that was sent to the Hornets in the Terry Rozier deal,â he wrote.
Hachimura on His Way Out of Los Angeles?
Hachimura has been in trade talks for the Los Angeles Lakers over the past few weeks since the season ended, with Jovan Buha of The Athletic recently stating that there’s a possibility that the Lakers could look to move on from their starting five. He later added that it’s possible that Hachimura could be the sixth man, or they could look to trade him.
âI think they need to look at potentially I think changing the starting lineup, and then itâs a conversation of, is it Rui as the sixth man, or is it Rui going out? And youâre using that to go get the center or to go get the weight. So to answer your question, right now, I would go like a 5.5. I think itâs maybe more likely than not that Rui is traded, but I think it is pretty close to 50/50 right now,â Buha said.
If the Lakers could get Wiggins in return for Hachimura and more, it feels like a smart trade to make. He didn’t play well for the Miami Heat last season, but during his time with the Golden State Warriors, he averaged over 17 points in four of the five seasons he was there.
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