Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka looks on before a game against the Chicago Bulls.
As the February 5 trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Lakers continue to scan the market for a meaningful 3-and-D wing upgrade.
A wide range of names has circulated in recent weeks, but Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins has remained a constant presence in trade conversations.
The Lakers’ interest in Wiggins is nothing new. Last summer, Los Angeles reportedly rejected Miami’s asking price of two rotation players and a first-round pick.
Despite that hesitation, the connection has not gone away. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Lakers’ interest has carried over into the current deadline window.
Lakers Still Searching for Answers on the Wing
Through 47 games this season, Wiggins is averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 block per game while shooting 46.8% from the field and 38.4% from three-point range.
The 30-years-old would represent a clear upgrade on the wing for the Lakers. The issue, as it has been all season, is the lack of compelling assets to complete a deal.
As widely reported, the front office has been constructing potential trade packages around expiring contracts such as Rui Hachimura at $18.2 million, Gabe Vincent at $11.5 million, and Maxi Kleber at $11 million, with second-year guard Dalton Knecht included to seemingly sweeten offers.
Those assets, however, have not generated meaningful traction across the league, or specifically with Miami, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.
“The Lakers are now pressed for time to find a key wing upgrade before the trade deadline,” Siegel wrote. “Despite continued interest in Andrew Wiggins, the Heat don’t appear to have interest in anything the Lakers have offered.”
Complicating matters further is Wiggins’ $28.2 million salary, which makes him a useful salary-matching piece for Miami as it positions itself for a potential blockbuster pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has recently hit the trade block.
Lakers Hitting Familiar Roadblocks Ahead of the Deadline
Siegel’s reporting aligns with similar developments elsewhere, including the Golden State Warriors reportedly turning away Lakers inquiries involving Jonathan Kuminga after deeming proposed packages insufficient.
NBA reporter Jake Weinbach has also noted that Los Angeles has struggled to meet asking prices for several preferred wing targets as the deadline draws closer.
“Other prominent trade targets for the Lakers include Dallas’ Naji Marshall, New Orleans’ Herb Jones, and Miami’s Andrew Wiggins, but Los Angeles has been unable to meet the asking price for any of these valued wings up to this point,” Weinbach wrote on X.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin has added that the Lakers are exploring whether they can flip either their lone tradable first-round pick into multiple future selections, suggesting that coming away from the deadline empty-handed would represent a “major miss” for the franchise.
Meanwhile, NBA insider Jake Fischer believes the Lakers’ failed pursuit of Keon Ellis, who was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, serves as a further indicator that Rob Pelinka is not operating with maximum aggression ahead of the deadline.
Instead, Fischer reports that Los Angeles is prioritizing long-term flexibility over short-term upgrades.
The organization is projected to have more than $55 million in cap space once LeBron James comes off the books, providing a clean runway to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
As a result, it is becoming increasingly likely that Pelinka opts for patience at the deadline, either standing pat or making a minor move, before fully shifting focus toward a summer that could offer far more flexibility and upside.