The Los Angeles Lakers have a painfully obvious need for a two-way wing to help propel Luka Doncic and LeBron James closer to a championship in 2025-26. Marc Stein reported Rob Pelinka will be keeping his eyes peered for a window of opportunity.
Stein dropped a big roundup of the latest murmurings from the NBA rumor mill. The Lakers were featured at the forefront. Pelinka and the front office will be eyeing 'the proverbial right deal to present itself to upgrade on the wing.'
Stein wrote, "The Lakers' reluctance in the early stages of the offseason to consider trades for contracts that stretch beyond the 2025-26 season has thawed somewhat. ... League sources say L.A. would indeed have interest in adding a two-way swingman who can raise their ceiling."
The NBA insider suggested Andrew Wiggins as the type of player that would interest the Lakers, if he were made available. Stein thought the Miami Heat forward could be on the trade market, if Pat Riley and company were to prioritize financial flexibility over the coming weeks or months.
Two-way wing remains the most obvious boost Lakers should desire
This is not the first time that Wiggins has been floated as a potential Lakers target. When it happened earlier in the offseason, Riley and the Heat put forward a ludicrous asking price for their two-way man. That is a shame considering the former NBA champion really is a tremendous fit.
Doncic and James would both thrive from having someone who can be tasked with difficult matchups defensively to the capacity Wiggins is capable of. Marcus Smart was a nice addition to try and address that, but the injury concerns exist mightily with overusing him.
Wiggins is also a low-maintenance mouth to feed on the offensive end. His ability to stretch the floor and slash to the basket when necessary make him an easy plug-and-play with Doncic and James.
i would sleep better going into this season if the Lakers had Andrew Wiggins on the wing moving puppies pic.twitter.com/R5ktsYi3Iw
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) August 15, 2025
Backup plans must be considered when evaluating the trade market, especially if Riley continues to be the stingy negotiator he has proven to be in the past.
As things stand, Doncic and James would likely be joined by Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup. There could be an argument to squeeze Smart in there, but that will take time for the new Lakers guard.
If the Lakers want a definitive strategy to push them all-in, players not named Wiggins who can fit the needed mold could be Aaron Nesmith, Matisse Thybulle, Dillon Brooks, or Herb Jones. Those are all players who may become available at some point before the NBA trade deadline and demand Pelinka's attention if they do.