Andrew Wiggins trade Lakers, Lakers trade, Miami Heat
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Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Miami Heat dribbles during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 18, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Heat won 106-95.
The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly pursued an Andrew Wiggins trade last summer, but refused to meet the Miami Heat’s steep asking price of three rotational players and a first-round draft pick. However, amid their defensive woes — JJ Redick’s team ranks 24th in defensive rating — the Lakers may be forced to go all-in on a quality 3&D wing such as Wiggins ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike has floated a potential Lakers trade package that will help them add the 2022 NBA Champion to shore up their defense.
Lakers would get: Andrew Wiggins
Miami Heat would get: Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, Lakers’ 2032 first-round pick
Woike believes the Lakers may have reservations about parting with such a huge haul for Wiggins, given that they have only one tradeable first-round pick, and sacrificing that asset would rob them of their ability to have three first-rounders this offseason. As is widely documented, the Lakers have ambitious plans for the 2026 and 2027 offseasons when they could go hunting for a big fish via free agency or trades.
Lakers Trade for Andrew Wiggins
“So, yeah, the 2032 pick probably isn’t going anywhere,” Woike wrote, explaining why the Lakers are unlikely to part with their most valuable trade chip.
“With Wiggins, I don’t know if he’s really available or if he’s worth it at this price point. Again, would adding Wiggins make the Lakers so much better that they’d decide to ignore their plans?”
Wiggins predicted that a Lakers trade for Wiggins is highly unlikely, and the franchise could pursue a lesser name on a more affordable contract.
“I think the Lakers’ front office could convince itself that Wiggins is an athletic upgrade, and for what the team would lose in shooting, it would gain back in on-ball defense. But Wiggins has never been quite the defender people thought he’d be in the league.”
Lakers Still Covet Wiggins: Reports
Woike’s claim about Wiggins being an overrated on-ball defender is an opinion not shared by many, including this writer. The former Warriors wing put the clamps on Jayson Tatum during the 2022 NBA Finals, holding the Celtics star to 37% shooting as the primary defender (21-of-56 FG) and making a strong case to win Finals MVP.
Wiggins is also shooting a career-best 41.1% from three this season, and would be a great get for a Lakers team that ranks 25th in 3P% and 24th in 3PM.
For what it’s worth, the Lakers reportedly still have interest in Wiggins after talks with the Heat fell apart last offseason, per Lakers Daily’s Ashish Mathur.
According to Mathur, Wiggins has “many fans” within the Lakers organization as they covet his ability to guard the opponent’s best perimeter players. However, he believes the Heat are unlikely to do business with the Lakers due to the Pat Riley factor.
“Many people around the NBA remain skeptical that the Lakers can pull a deal off [for Wiggins] since the odds of Miami Heat president Pat Riley helping the Purple and Gold are very, very low,” Mathur reported on Dec. 4.
“It’s been over a decade, but Riley still hasn’t gotten over LeBron James leaving the Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2014, sources said.”
Besides Wiggins, other reported Lakers trade deadline targets include Herbert Jones, Keon Ellis and Daniel Gafford, per multiple insiders.