Lakers Get Firm Response in Wiggins Trade Pursuit

Getty

Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during his introductory press conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers have stepped up their efforts to acquire former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins as training camp nears, but the Miami Heat remain resistant to any move before the 2025-26 season, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported.

“After engaging in talks for Wiggins before the NBA Summer League in July, Lakers executive Rob Pelinka has since tried to reignite conversations with [Miami president] Pat Riley and the Heat,” Siegel wrote. “At this time, Miami holds no desire to trade Wiggins before next season, instead evaluating his production and fit before the trade deadline. The Heat has held a high asking price for Wiggins, one that the Lakers haven’t been willing to meet.”

Lakers Target Wiggins to Boost Title Odds

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

“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? Andrew Wiggins.”

Wiggins, who was acquired by Miami from Golden State in the Jimmy Butler trade, is seen as a ceiling-raising piece capable of bolstering the Lakers’ roster alongside Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.

Price Stands as Main Obstacle

As before, the primary hurdle remains the cost. ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin reported that Miami has been asking for a first-round pick, Wiggins himself, along with role players such as Gabe Vincent and Dalton Knecht. The Lakers have balked at including multiple high-value assets in a single trade.

“One story, and the one I heard more directly, was that the Miami Heat were asking for Rui Hachimura, a first-round pick, Gabe Vincent, and potentially Dalton Knecht,” Irwin said on the Sept. 8 episode of The Lakers Lounge podcast. “The Lakers would probably be fine moving off Dalton or Vincent, 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.”

Currently, the Lakers have limited draft assets: one tradable first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and a 2032 second-round pick. Another first-rounder becomes available next offseason, which could improve trade flexibility.

Wiggins as Defensive and Offensive Upgrade

GettyThe Lakers get bad news in their pursuit of an Andrew Wiggins trade

Lakers beat reporter Jovan Buha of Buha’s Block sees Wiggins as a key complement to the team’s core, providing two-way versatility to guard multiple positions and alleviate pressure on the team’s stars.

“The Lakers, with the right move, can vault themselves up to 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.”

Wiggins averaged 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 17 regular-season games for Miami last season. However, his production fell during the Heat’s first-round playoff sweep by Cleveland, dropping to 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

Lakers Waiting for the Right Fit

While Miami remains firm on keeping Wiggins, the Lakers continue to explore ways to clear salary and assets to make a potential deal work without sacrificing the core.

With Dončić locked in long-term and James entering the final season of his Lakers contract, adding a versatile two-way player like Wiggins could be the difference between contention and another early playoff exit.

The question remains: will the Lakers find a way to land Wiggins without overpaying, or will they wait until next offseason to revisit the pursuit?

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