The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly continuing trade talks with the Miami Heat to bring Andrew Wiggins to the Lakers. The deal comes off the back of the Lakers making American sports history with their $10 billion sale. The Lakers had a tumultuous season following the Luka Doncic trade that shocked the world and sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. The result of that unexpected trade was that the Lakers were left defensively vulnerable both in the paint and out on the perimeter. J.J. Reddick needed to find some players capable of filling the whole left by AD.
According to reports, the Lakers need to make some moves this offseason
Following Wednesday night’s draft, it has become evident that there are going to be a whole lot of changes in the NBA this offseason. From the Mavs selecting Cooper Flagg to the Nets selecting five first-round picks, the draft threw some drama our way this year, as always. The focus for the teams not in the top selection order has been on the trade market and free agency, due to open on 6 July.
The reports seem to be true, as several teams in the NBA have already made some significant changes to their roster. The Celtics made two trades in as many days by offloading Jrue Holiday to the Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks. Desmond Bane will now be playing in Orlando, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is on his way to Memphis.
The Lakers have had their eye on Andrew Wiggins for some time now
Following their record-setting sale, the Los Angeles Lakers front office will be working hard to improve the roster for next season by wheeling and dealing, as they do not have much cap room to work with. Andrew Wiggins has been a player that interests the Lakers for some time, and reports are that the Lakers and the Heat are continuing with their trade talks.
Can the Los Angeles Lakers entice the Miami Heat into a trade?
The reports have emerged from Lakers insider, ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin. He reported that the Lakers and Heat have continued their trade talks. Wiggins came to the Heat as part of a three-team trade that saw Jimmy Butler go to the Warriors. Since joining Miami, the 2014 first-round pick has suffered multiple lower-body injuries that slowed his averages to 19.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in just 17 games.
Wiggins, 30, has two years, $58 million left on his current contract, including a player option in 2026-27 that the Lakers will need to inherit if the deal goes through. The Lakers could try to entice Miami with a Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura combination or perhaps even a Gabe Vincent reunion. All of the aforementioned players are on expiring contracts.
The Lakers have the basketball world’s eyes on them at the moment. ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin posted to his personal X page the following regarding the Andrew Wiggins situation:
The Lakers and Heat have continued their trade talks. I reported the other day that the Lakers checked in on Andrew Wiggins, and negotiations have advanced from there. A deal isn’t imminent, but there’s been plenty of conversation on this front.”
Can Andrew Wiggins finally reach his full potential in Los Angeles if traded?
As the NBA is consumed by the draft results and the ever-changing trade news at the moment, the fans of the NBA are glued to their TVs and phones, awaiting the latest trade news to be uncovered by the NBA media. Andrew Wiggins never reached his full potential in either Golden State or Miami, so the question becomes, can the former first-round pick finally reach his full potential at the age of 30 in Los Angeles? The Lakers, and indeed Wiggins himself, are surely hopeful the deal works out and he comes to join a forceful team in LA.
