The Los Angeles Lakers‘ trade conversations with the Miami Heat involving Andrew Wiggins have advanced past the exploratory stage, Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints reports.
“After reporting the Lakers checked in with the Heat about Wiggins’ price, sources tell ClutchPoints that trade talks have advanced to the next step, though nothing is considered imminent as of right now,” Irwin wrote.
According to Irwin, the Heat are interested in Rui Hachimura and his expiring contract in exchange plus salary fillers for Wiggins.
Hachimura, 27, is three years younger than Wiggins.
The Japanese power forward put up 13.1 points on 51/41/77 shooting splits, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists for the Lakers who clinched the No. 3 seed in the West but fell in the first round of the playoffs.
Veteran center Maxi Kleber, a throw-in in the Luka Dončić trade, or former Heat guard Gabe Vincent could be the salary filler to make the math work in the potential Wiggins-Hachimura swap. But the Heat want more from the Lakers.
“League sources believe Miami would push for Dalton Knecht in the trade, as the Lakers may not want to trade their 2031 or ’32 first-round pick before they address their vacant center position. Miami might also look to move Kyle Anderson and the two years, $18.8 million left on his contract,” Irwin wrote.
Andrew Wiggins’ Fit With Lakers
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty ImagesThe Lakers are looking to acquire Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat.
Wiggins has two more years left (last year is $30.2 million player option) in his four-year, $109 million contract. Flipping Hachimura, who could be looking for more money makes a ton of sense for the Lakers not only from basketball standpoint.
The Lakers have struggled defending the perimeter last year. Wiggins can help them shore up their perimeter defense while he can knock down 3-point shots on the other end.
Wiggins averaged 19.0 points 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 block in 17 games with the Heat since he arrived at the trade deadline as part of the Jimmy Butler return package from the Golden State Warriors. The Canadian wing had a bounce-back season overall, after missing a chunk of games during the 2023-24 season to attend to his ailing father, former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, who died in September last year.
Between the Warriors and the Heat, Wiggins averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists while shooting 45% from the field, 37% from 3-point line across 60 games. The 30-year-old 3-and-D wing is just three seasons removed from his All-Star season when he helped the Warriors win their last championship over the Boston Celtics in 2022.
Rui Hachimura Becomes Expendable
Hachimura has become expendable after Dorian Finney-Smith‘s arrival midseason. Finney-Smith is the better defender who has a strong relationship with Doncic, the new face of the Lakers franchise. The Lakers are looking to bring back Finney-Smith, who is looking for a longer deal. The 32-year-old veteran has a $15.4 million player option.
But “if the Lakers push to keep Hachimura out of the trade,” it could cost them “some first-round draft capital, as well as either the No. 55 pick in this year’s draft or a future pick swap,” according to Irwin. But the Heat “like Hachimura’s shooting ability at his size,” Irwin added.
Hachimura is the Lakers’ salary ballast for any potential trade — be it center or wing.
The Lakers have only one first-round pick (2031 or 2023) available but they also have up to four pick swaps.
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