Lakers Ramp Up Andrew Wiggins Trade Pursuit

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Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat controls the ball against Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.

The Los Angeles Lakers have intensified their pursuit of Miami Heat star Andrew Wiggins as training camp approaches, according to Forbes’ Evan Sidery.

“Los Angeles is very open to moving former first-round pick Dalton Knecht alongside the necessary expiring salary. Miami wants a future first-round pick attached in the package,” Sidery wrote on X Saturday.

The renewed discussions follow NBA insider Marc Stein’s report identifying Wiggins as a target for the Lakers after Luka Dončić committed to a long-term deal with the team.

“League sources say L.A. would indeed have interest in adding a two-way swingman who can raise their ceiling,” Stein wrote in his The Stein Line newsletter on Sept. 8. “The sort of player who is likely to interest the Lakers? My read (if Miami were to make him available): Andrew Wiggins.”

Previous Talks Stalled Over High Price

Earlier in the offseason, exploratory talks on a Wiggins-for-Rui Hachimura swap broke down, Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints reported.

“One story, and the one that I heard more directly, was that the Miami Heat were asking for Rui Hachimura,” Irwin said on the Sept. 8 episode of his podcast The Lakers Lounge. “They were asking for a first-round pick, Gabe Vincent, and potentially Dalton Knecht. The Lakers would probably be fine moving off Dalton or Vincent for Wiggins, and maybe even Rui, but they definitely did not want to include Rui and the first-round pick together. That’s where the talks broke down.”

Draft Capital Limits Lakers Flexibility

Currently, the Lakers hold limited draft assets: one tradable first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and a 2032 second-round pick. Another first-rounder will become available next offseason, potentially increasing flexibility.

Irwin stressed that the Lakers’ best-case scenario would be acquiring Wiggins without giving up Hachimura or their first-round pick.

“Ideally, the Lakers find a way to move Maxi Kleber’s contract, Gabe Vincent’s contract and Dalton Knecht’s contract, maybe with another minimum-type deal,” Irwin said. “From a basketball standpoint, that’s the best outcome. You don’t want to trade away your sixth-best player when you’re on the outside looking in at the true contenders.”

Wiggins Could Elevate Lakers to Elite Tier

A two-way wing like Wiggins would complement the Lakers’ core of LeBron James, Dončić, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, and Hachimura. Jovan Buha said the move could immediately elevate Los Angeles into the Western Conference’s elite tier.

“The Lakers, with the right move, can vault themselves up to the Tier 1 [of NBA title teams] and have a legit chance to win a championship,” Buha said on the Sept. 9 episode of his podcast. “If the Lakers were to get Andrew Wiggins, or a player of that ilk — a two-way wing who can guard multiple positions, including backcourt players and wings, and take that burden off LeBron, Luka, Austin, and Rui — that’s the ideal complement to Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura.”

Buha echoed Irwin’s assessment that acquiring Wiggins while retaining Hachimura would strengthen both the Lakers’ first and second units.

Will the renewed talks finally result in a blockbuster trade to boost the Lakers’ title hopes?

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo