jj redick rob pelinka
Getty
JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers‘ preferred path is a wait-and-see approach after balking at the Miami Heat’s steep initial asking price for Andrew Wiggins, according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints.
The organization’s opportunistic strategy is to hold firm until the trade market softens, a move that mirrors how they landed Dorian Finney-Smith last season without giving up a first-round pick.
“These talks kind of broke down when Miami also pushed for a first-round pick for [Wiggins],” Irwin said on his Lakers Lounge podcast on Sept. 8. “It reminds me of Brooklyn with Dorian Finney-Smith a year ago… by the regular season the price dropped further and further until the Lakers were able to get Dorian for D’Angelo Russell’s expiring contract.”
The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith, along with Shake Milton, at the trade deadline last season for Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks.
Differences From the Finney-Smith Deal
Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, Mike Conley, Lakers
GettyGabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith defend Mike Conley during the NBA Playoffs first round meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Irwin noted, however, that Wiggins’ value remains higher than Finney-Smith’s.
“Wiggins is a better player at this stage of his career than Dorian,” Irwin said. “So the price for him is higher than D’Angelo Russell’s expiring contract and some second-round draft capital. But I do believe by December or January, let alone the trade deadline, his name will pop back up and the price will have dropped to a point where the Lakers are more comfortable.”
Irwin earlier reported that Miami’s asking price included Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, a first-round pick and potentially Dalton Knecht — a package that stalled talks.
Heat Stand Firm on Their Wing
Andrew Wiggins, Heat
GettyDonovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat.
While the Lakers hope patience will lower the cost, the Heat have shown no urgency to part with Wiggins. Miami Herald reporters Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson said the franchise intends to retain him, with Jackson writing that “nothing” offered so far has been “enticing.”
Wiggins, 30, is under contract for two more seasons, with a $30.2 million player option in 2026-27.
Lakers’ Draft Capital in Play
Los Angeles has been cautious with its draft assets, holding one tradable first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and a 2032 second-round pick. Another first-rounder will become available next offseason, giving the Lakers more flexibility.
Irwin emphasized that the Lakers’ best-case scenario is acquiring Wiggins without moving Hachimura and 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. “From a basketball standpoint, that’s the best outcome. You don’t want to trade away your sixth-best player when you’re on the outside looking in at the true contenders.”
Stein Sparks Renewed Buzz
Irwin’s assessment followed Marc Stein’s report that identified Wiggins as a target for the Lakers in the wake of Luka Dončić’s long-term commitment.
“League sources say L.A. would indeed have interest in adding a two-way swingman who can raise their ceiling,” Stein wrote in The Stein Line newsletter on Sept. 8. “The sort of player who is likely to interest the Lakers? My read (if Miami were to make him available): Andrew Wiggins.”
Stein added that Los Angeles could move if the Heat decide to prioritize financial flexibility and trim payroll.
A Potential Missing Piece
Jovan Buha echoed Irwin’s stance, arguing that Wiggins could be the kind of two-way player who would push the Lakers into the West’s elite.
“If the Lakers were to get Andrew Wiggins—or a player of that ilk—that’s the ideal complement to Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura,” Buha said on his Buha’s Block podcast on Sept. 9. “With the right move, the Lakers can vault themselves into Tier 1 and have a legit chance to win a championship.”