Wiggins to Grizzlies, KCP to Lakers: 3-team trade that could change everything
A bold three-team trade between the Lakers, Heat, and Grizzlies could quietly reshape rosters and provide each franchise with pieces that better align with their current goals and roster construction.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made it clear: this is now Luka Doncic’s team.
Every decision moving forward revolves around the Slovenian star, and that means building a roster that actually fits his style of play.
He needs defenders who can cover for him on the other end, shooters who can stretch the floor, and big men who can screen, roll, and finish in the pick and roll.
LeBron James is still around, but at this stage of his career, he’s no longer at the center of the Lakers’ long-term strategy.
He may contribute, but he’s no longer the reason moves are made. The front office is focused on finding players who complement Luka, not just names, but actual basketball fits.
And the Lakers have indeed started building their roster with that vision in mind.
They brought in DeAndre Ayton, who should be an excellent pick-and-roll partner for Luka, and added both Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart, players who fit the mold of defensive-minded role players who can play without the ball and knock down open shots.
But the real question is whether these additions will be enough. The idea is clear: surround Luka with tough defenders who don’t need the ball and can punish defenses when left open.
Is Marcus Smart the right fit for the Lakers?
Smart
Credit AP – Scanpix
However, we have to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, especially when it comes to Marcus Smart.
Over the past few seasons, injuries have become a serious concern.
In the 2023–24 season, Smart played just 20 games, and even in the 2024–25 campaign, he struggled to stay consistently healthy.
On paper, he’s exactly what the Lakers need: a high-level 3-and-D guard who can take on the toughest defensive assignments and space the floor for Doncic.
But whether he can stay on the court long enough to make that impact remains a big question; he has been struggling with injuries even since he left Boston.
In my opinion, the Lakers need at least one more player of that profile, especially in the case that Marcus Smart continues to struggle staying on the court due to his injuries.
And if it were possible, instead of Smart, hypothetically, one player would be a much better addition than Marcus Smart.
That brings us to a familiar face. As they were searching for tough 3-and-D role players who know how to play without the ball, the idea of bringing back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was clearly there.
However, since the arrival of Marcus Smart, things have changed a bit. The question remains whether Smart was the right move and if the Lakers have the right tools for the 2025-26 season to be competitive.
KCP is the type of player who made a difference in the 2020 title run and who could quietly be one of the most important additions in this next chapter.
Therefore, here is the three-team trade I proposed that is extremely interesting to analyze.
Proposed Lakers-Heat-Grizzlies trade
Lakers receive:
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Heat receive:
- Gabe Vincent
- Maxi Kleber
- 2026 1st-round pick (via Lakers)
Grizzlies receive:
- Andrew Wiggins
Why Heat would trade Wiggins
Wiggins
Credit AP – Scanpix
Andrew Wiggins’ 2024–25 season with the Miami Heat exposed just how poor the fit really was, especially when diving into the advanced numbers.
Despite having a high usage rate of around 26%, which indicates the offense frequently ran through him, the Heat were actually worse when he was on the floor.
Miami scored 4.1 fewer points per 100 possessions with Wiggins in the lineup, and his efficiency differential —a metric that compares team performance when a player is on vs. off the court —was a staggering 6.1, the worst of his career.
In short, the more involved Wiggins was, the less efficient the Heat became.
For a team that values ball movement, defensive grit, and situational awareness, Wiggins’ high-usage, low-impact profile stood out for all the wrong reasons.
The concern grew even deeper in the playoffs, where Wiggins’ production dipped noticeably.
His shooting percentages dropped, his defensive presence became less reliable, and his decision-making in crucial moments often stalled Miami’s offensive rhythm.
In a system that demands consistency and accountability in high-stakes situations, Wiggins was simply not dependable.
Over four postseason games, Wiggins averaged just 11.5 points on 37.2% shooting from the field and 35% from three, well below expectations for someone handling that level of offensive responsibility.
In high-pressure moments, where Miami typically thrives, Wiggins couldn’t deliver.
His playoff dip, coupled with his inefficient and ball-dominant style, clashed with Miami’s system of precision, movement, and defensive grit.
KCP – Not an ideal fit for Grizzlies
Pope
Credit USA Today Sports – Scanpix
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope endured one of the worst seasons of his 12-year NBA career during the 2024–25 campaign with Orlando.
His scoring dropped to just 8.7 points per game, the lowest since his rookie year, and his shooting efficiency fell sharply—43.9% overall and 34.2% from three.
His advanced metrics tell a similarly bleak story: despite playing 77 games and averaging nearly 30 minutes, his true shooting percentage plummeted to 47.1%, a career low.
His usage rate remained moderate, but he failed to make an offensive impact, nowhere near the impact he had with the Nuggets, where he perfectly complemented Jokic’s squad and understood the system perfectly.
With Magic, he posted a negative Real Plus-Minus (RPM) of -2.9, indicating that the Magic performed better with him off the floor.
On the defensive end, his metrics also declined, as reflected in his defensive rating of around 112.8, which was the lowest ever since the 2020/21 season.
This all resulted in Caldwell-Pope being involved in a trade alongside Cole Anthony and four unprotected first-round picks (including the No. 16 overall pick) plus a 2029 pick swap to Memphis in exchange for Desmond Bane.
But this is where Andrew Wiggins enters the picture as a potential option for the Grizzlies.
Wiggins and Caldwell-Pope are very different types of players, and with Desmond Bane no longer on the roster, Memphis might be looking for someone who can bring scoring versatility and shot creation—particularly in pick-and-roll situations.
Wiggins still offers that. During the 2024–25 season, approximately 22% of his offensive possessions came as a pick-and-roll ball handler, making it his most frequently used play type.
While not elite, he’s comfortable operating in isolation or attacking switches and has hovered in the 17–19 points per game range throughout most of his career.
Even during his rocky stint with the Miami Heat—where the fit clearly wasn’t ideal—he still managed to average close to 19 points per game in the regular season.
His ability to hit tough mid-range shots and create looks out of nothing remains a skill few on the Grizzlies’ current roster possess.
For a young Memphis squad lacking veteran scoring threats, having someone like Wiggins who can take over stretches offensively could provide a stabilizing presence.
That said, it’s fair to wonder how Wiggins would fit in Tuomas Iisalo’s system, which emphasizes pace, ball movement, and collective shot creation.
The high usage rate Wiggins had in Miami may not align with the Grizzlies’ new philosophy, and whether he can adapt to a more team-first, read-and-react offense will be a key factor in determining the success of this potential move.