Andrew Wiggins joined the Miami Heat as part of the deal that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. Wiggins, a former NBA champion, has two years remaining on his current $109 million deal, with the final year being a player option.
It’s that player option that could see the Heat trade Wiggins ahead of the February 2026 trade deadline. Currently, the franchise runs the risk of Wiggins opting out of his deal and hitting unrestricted free agency next summer.
With that in mind, Mark Morales-Smith of “Fantasy on SI,” has proposed a trade that could make sense for everyone involved. Morales-Smith envisions the Dallas Mavericks being the trade partner due to Wiggins’ defensive upside and championship experience.
The proposed deal would look like this:
Miami Heat Get: Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington and a future first-round pick
Dallas Mavericks Get: Andrew Wiggins
“If the Heat are determined to move off of Wiggins, this is a solid return,” Morales-Smith wrote. “Gafford is a good center who averaged 12.3 and 6.8 last season. His presence at center is needed in Miami. He’d slide in nicely in their frontcourt next to Bam Adebayo. Washington would be a direct replacement for Wiggins.”
Gafford, 26, would give Miami a stronger presence in the middle of the floor. Furthermore, he would provide rim protection and a much-needed lob threat on offense. Pairing him with Bam Adebayo in the front court would undoubtedly improve Miami’s overall defense, too.
The Proposed Heat Trade Would Work
When looking at proposed trades such as the one above, the most important thing is ensuring it’s viable under league rules. When running this trade through Spotrac’s trade machine, the trade idea is deemed a success. However, Miami would likely need to waive a player before finalizing the deal.
Fortunately, that would mean that if Miami and Dallas were to consider a trade of this nature, they wouldn’t need to include a third team. The more front offices you get involved in these types of negotiations, the harder it becomes to get an agreement that works for everyone involved.
Gafford would be the star return for Miami. He’s young enough to anchor the paint for the next five, six or seven years. Furthermore, he fits the current timeline along with Tyler Herro and Adebayo.
Heat Could Target Russell Westbrook In Free Agency
Regardless of whether the Heat decides to make a deal like the one Morales-Smith envisions, they could still look to add a veteran in free agency. That’s why Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report believes the Heat could potentially “rescue” Russell Westbrook, who has been a free agent since leaving the Denver Nuggets earlier this summer.
“The Miami Heat’s point guard rotation is largely populated by combo or shooting guards,” Bailey wrote. “Right now, it looks like Tyler Herro could be the starter at the 1…Having a real, veteran point guard on the roster could stabilize a second unit that figures to include lots of younger talents like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović and Davion Mitchell.”
Westbrook would help solve some of the Heat’s issues at the point guard position. He would be a strong presence off the bench. Miami’s second unit is considerably young and inexperienced. Adding a former MVP could be the ideal way to add some balance.
Pat Riley has never shied away from acquiring aging talent. So, if Westbrook remains available in the coming weeks, Miami could emerge as the most logical landing spot.
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