The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat have reportedly reopened trade talks surrounding Andrew Wiggins, the former Golden State Warriors wing who helped the franchise capture the 2022 NBA championship. According to Forbes’ Evan Sidery, the Heat remain firm on receiving at least one first-round pick in exchange for Wiggins, one of the best two-way wings in the NBA.
“The Heat and Lakers have reopened discussions on a potential Andrew Wiggins trade ahead of training camp,” Sidery wrote on X. “Los Angeles is very open to moving former first-round pick Dalton Knecht alongside necessary expiring salary.
“Miami wants a future first-round pick attached in the package.”
Will Lakers Meet Asking Price?
At the start of free agency, the Lakers first expressed interest in acquiring Wiggins, per multiple reports. At the time, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha noted that Miami had set a high asking price of Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and a first-round pick, which the Lakers turned down.
“It’s not a realistic trade,” Buha said at the time. “I think Miami’s playing hardball, and we’ll see if they soften their stance.”
When reports of the Lakers’ renewed interest in the ex-Warriors star resurfaced, Clutch Points’ Anthony Irwin explained why the previous trade talks broke down.
“One story, and the one that I heard more directly, was that the Miami Heat were asking for Rui Hachimura,” Irwin said on the Sept. 8 episode of his podcast The Lakers Lounge. “They were asking for a first-round pick, Gabe Vincent, and potentially Dalton Knecht. The Lakers would probably be fine moving off Dalton or Vincent for Wiggins, and maybe even Rui, but they definitely did not want to include Rui and the first-round pick together. That’s where the talks broke down.”
Potential Lakers – Heat Trade
In light of the reports, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, a notable NBA salary-cap expert, presented an ideal scenario that could benefit both the Lakers and Heat. Pincus included the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade pitch.
Lakers would receive: Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Drew Timme
Heat would receive: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht
Nets would receive: Maxi Kleber, 2026 second-round pick, cash
Pincus explained why Wiggins — the Warriors’ best defender in their 2022 NBA championship victory — would be an upgrade over Hachimura/
“From a basketball perspective, the 30-year-old [Wiggins] would step in as the team’s best perimeter defender. At 6’7″, he’d fill the role left by the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith,” he wrote.
“Hachimura had some success against bigger players such as Nikola Jokić (though not enough for the Lakers to win a series over the Denver Nuggets). Still, he’s not especially mobile enough to stick with attacking guards and wings.”
As for the Heat, Pincus explained why trading Wiggins — who owns a player option for the 2026-26 season — would benefit the franchise in the coming years.
“Getting out of Wiggins would not only clear $30.1 million from next year’s books but also put the team well under the tax threshold to add [Precious] Achiuwa,” Pincus wrote. “The Heat would gain flexibility for additional moves at approximately $9.3 million below the tax threshold.”
