The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly intensifying their pursuit of a two-way wing to complement their championship window, with NBA insider Evan Sidery confirming that trade discussions with the Miami Heat regarding Andrew Wiggins have been reopened.
According to Sidery, the Lakers are willing to include former first-round pick Dalton Knecht alongside the necessary expiring salary to bring Wiggins to Los Angeles. Miami, however, is seeking a future first-round pick as part of the deal, a point that complicates negotiations given the Lakers’ limited draft assets.
“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.
This renewed interest follows NBA insider Marc Stein’s report identifying Wiggins as a target for Los Angeles after superstar 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.
Why Wiggins Makes Sense
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The 30-year-old Wiggins offers exactly the type of 3-and-D skill set the Lakers covet. He can defend multiple positions while relieving pressure on both LeBron James and Dončić, and he brings consistent scoring—averaging 18 points per game last season over 60 contests. During his championship run with the Golden State Warriors in 2022, Wiggins averaged 18 points per game, shot 44.8% from the field, and 37.4% from three-point range, solidifying his credentials as a complementary star.
“[A two-way wing] 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,” analyst Jovan Buha said on the Sept. 9 episode of his podcast.
The Lakers’ front office sees a pressing need for at least one 3-and-D wing to maintain competitiveness while James, now 39, still occupies the roster. While Dončić represents the franchise’s long-term core, the team is eager to maximize its immediate championship window.
Draft Capital and Negotiation Hurdles
Negotiations earlier in the offseason reportedly stalled because Miami’s asking price was too high. Exploratory talks around a Wiggins-for-Rui Hachimura swap reportedly broke down because the Heat sought a first-round pick, Gabe Vincent, and possibly Knecht. The Lakers were unwilling to include Hachimura and a first-round pick together, leading to a stalemate.
Currently, the Lakers hold only one tradable first-round pick, with another becoming available next offseason, limiting flexibility in negotiations. Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints suggested 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.
Potential Impact on the Team
If the trade succeeds, Wiggins could immediately elevate Los Angeles into the Western Conference’s elite tier. Buha added, “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.” The combination of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, and a player like Wiggins would give the Lakers depth and versatility across both first and second units.
Wiggins has shown no signs of slowing down, and in 17 appearances with Miami last season, he averaged 19 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and a block per game on a 53% effective field goal rate. The question remains whether the future potential of Dalton Knecht, who averaged 9.1 points per game on 57.6% eFG in limited minutes last season, is worth the price to secure a proven veteran scorer.
With training camp approaching, the Lakers’ front office faces a critical decision: move quickly to acquire the elite 3-and-D wing that could make their title push legitimate or hold onto young assets and draft capital for long-term flexibility. For now, the discussions with Miami are active, and the league will be watching closely to see if Los Angeles can land the missing piece for its championship blueprint.