Andrew Wiggins, Heat
Getty
Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat.
The Miami Heat have advanced in trade talks with the Los Angeles Lakers in a possible Andrew Wiggins–Rui Hachimura, Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints reports.
According to Irwin, Miami “likes Hachimura’s shooting ability at his size.”
The 6-foot-8 Japanese power forward knocked down 41.3% of his 3-point shots last season.
“After reporting the Lakers checked in with the Heat about Wiggins’ price, sources tell ClutchPoints that trade talks have advanced to the next step, though nothing is considered imminent as of right now,” Irwin wrote.
Hachimura averaged 13.1 points on 51/41/77 shooting splits, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists for the Lakers this past season.
Rui Hachimura, Lakers
Getty Rui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the second half of a game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Hachimura, 27, is three years younger than Wiggins, who was acquired by the Heat as part of the Jimmy Butler return package from the Golden State Warriors.
In the aftermath of the Heat losing out on the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, they have made Wiggins available, ClutchPoint’s Brett Seigel reported on June 24.
“Teams are wondering what is next with the Miami Heat after striking out on a Durant trade,” Seigel wrote. “Miami continues to make Andrew Wiggins available in trade talks and would be willing to part with the 20th pick in the NBA Draft for an upgrade alongside Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, sources said.”
Wiggins was part of the Heat’s reported final package for Durant.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Heat’s final offer was Wiggins, Terry Rozier, two bench players — Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Haywood Smith — and the this year’s 20th pick.
Andrew Wiggins’ Postseason Flop
Wiggins posted solid numbers for the Heat since he arrived, averaging 19.0 points 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 block in 17 games. But the alarming drop of his performance in the Heat’s lopsided playoff loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers could have factored in the Heat’s decision to look to move on from him.
Wiggins’s numbers plummeted to 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in the Cavaliers’ 4-0 sweep of the Heat.
But overall, the Canadian wing had a bounce-back season after missing a chunk of games during the 2023-24 season to attend to his ailing father, former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, who died in September last year.
Between the Warriors and the Heat, Wiggins averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists while shooting 45% from the field, 37% from 3-point line across 60 games. The 30-year-old 3-and-D wing is just three seasons removed from his All-Star season when he helped the Warriors win their last championship over the Boston Celtics in 2022.
Heat Want More For Andrew Wiggins
According to Irwin, there is also a chance that former Heat guard Gabe Vincent returns to Miami as part of the potential trade. Vincent or veteran center Maxi Kleber, a throw-in in the Luka Dončić trade could be the salary filler to make the math work.
However, the Heat are “believed” to be looking for more in exchange for Wiggins.
“League sources believe Miami would push for Dalton Knecht in the trade, as the Lakers may not want to trade their 2031 or ’32 first-round pick before they address their vacant center position. Miami might also look to move Kyle Anderson and the two years, $18.8 million left on his contract,” Irwin wrote.
Wiggins has two more years left (last year is $30.2 million player option) in his four-year, $109 million contract. Hachimura is on an expiring $18.3 million salary.