The Los Angeles Lakers have been rumored to have interest in trading for Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins this summer. According to multiple reports, they have talked to the Heat about landing him, but apparently, the asking price has been too high for them.
Wiggins could be the type of two-way wing who would elevate the Lakers into championship contention. He averaged 18.0 points a game and shot 37.4% from 3-point range this past season, and he was sent to the Heat by the Golden State Warriors in the February deal that shipped Jimmy Butler to Golden State.
Perhaps Wiggins is simply out of reach for L.A. Anthony Chiang, who covers the Heat for the Miami Herald, posted on social media that Wiggins is expected to start the new season as a member of the Heat.
Wiggins, 30, played a key role in the Warriors winning the NBA championship in 2022, and he was a starter in the All-Star game that year. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft out of the University of Kansas.
He has two years left on his contract, and the final year of the contract is a player option for the 2026-27 season, which means he could fit into the Lakers’ reported plan to load up on cap space in order to land a second superstar alongside Luka Doncic.