The Los Angeles Lakers made one notable move this offseason with the signing of center Deandre Ayton, but they may want to do more. One player who has been linked to the team is Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins.
The Heat need to start thinking about a rebuild after a rough season. Their roster isn’t in a great place, and they should start embracing youth. According to Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha, Miami wants a first-round pick, Dalton Knecht and Rui Hachimura in exchange for Wiggins.
While Wiggins would be a good fit for what the Lakers need, Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report doesn’t think the team should give up so much to get him.
“The issue is the enormous price tag for a player who, despite being as good now as he ever has, still has only averaged 18.5 points per game and would not be the facilitator of the offense,” Beasley wrote. “Wiggins would be at least the third most important player on the team behind James and Dončić and that does not take into consideration Austin Reaves.
“Wiggins is a solid defender and the team needs that, especially given Reaves and Dončić’s shortcomings in that area of their game, but is it worth giving up the king’s ransom that the Lakers would have to in order to bring Wiggins on board? No.”
Lakers Should Try to See if Heat Will Take Less
Just because the Heat are asking for a lot right out of the gate doesn’t mean there isn’t room for negotiation. Perhaps Hachimura and Knecht, without the first-round pick, would be enough to get a deal done.
However, the Heat might want that first-round pick more than Knecht. Beasley agrees that if Miami is willing to negotiate, the Lakers may want to make a deal for Wiggins happen.
“If the Heat bring down their asking price, the potential for a Lakers trade would be more realistic and understandable,” Beasley wrote. “As it is, though, the team is already light on quality depth and trading away players who can help with that and a first round pick at a time when the organization is looking to the future would be a silly, nonsensical decision that would do more long-term harm than good.”
Are Lakers Trying to Win Now?
Trading for Wiggins would show that the Lakers are committed to making a run at a championship in what could be LeBron James‘ last year with the team. A starting lineup of James, Doncic, Wiggins, Ayton and Austin Reaves would be very good when healthy.
The depth might be an issue, but the Lakers would be formidable. Whether or not the Lakers try to swing a big move is dependent on how they see the team.
They could choose to trade James this offseason and start looking to build a bit more slowly around Doncic. In that scenario, it makes no sense to trade young assets for a player like Wiggins. If James is going to stay on the roster, the team should really consider trying to go on one last long playoff run with the future Hall of Famer.
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