Andrew Wiggins could be the missing piece in the Los Angeles Lakers jigsaw. After stunning the NBA by acquiring Luka Doncic last season and partnering him with LeBron James, Los Angeles had a modest summer.
Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia have been added to the roster, but respected NBA insider and talkSPORT contributor Marc Stein says the team knows a two-way swing man is necessary to unlock their full potential, with bosses more open to taking on long-term salary than earlier in the offseason.
Marc Stein believe Lakers could make trade for Andrew Wiggins
Stein discussed the Lakers’ needs with talkSPORT’S Brian T. Smith and made the case for Wiggins donning the purple and gold.
“There certainly is some curiosity leaguewide about Miami,” Stein said via talkSPORT USA on YouTube. “If the Heat struggle post Jimmy Butler, would the Heat move into cost cutting mode? And would the Heat make Andrew Wiggins available?
“And I think if the the Heat do reach that point, the Lakers will certainly try to make a trade run at Andrew Wiggins because he’s the kind of player they they need — a two-way wing.
“I think there’s no question that they would be interested in Wiggins if, again, underline if, he becomes available.”
Wiggins was selected first overall out of Kansas by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft but as part of a three-team trade in August he ended up in Minnesota with the Timberwolves.Six years later, he joined the Golden State Warriors and signed a four-year extension worth $109 million in 2022 — the year he won his first, and only, ring.
The 6ft 7in talent was part of the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Bay Area in February.
If L.A. coach JJ Redick can’t find a way to get him on board, Stein thinks the Lakers already concluded their most important business of the year.
“The Lakers had really limited flexibility in the summer to change their roster. They did as much as they could by bringing in Deandre Ayton,” he added. “But look, the Lakers got Luca’s signature on a long-term contract extension. So this summer was a massive win for them on that basis alone.
“They traded for Luca with no guarantee he would re-sign. He has re-signed. He’s there for the long term. They will be coming into flexibility this coming off season, the offseason after that. And you have to be honest, the Lakers have never struggled to attract more talent when they have flexibility.
“They’ve done the hardest part. They have the face of the franchise post LeBron.”
Luka Doncic is in the shape of his life
The future may be bright in California, but fans will expect results now.
A fit Doncic would be a big help on that front — and Stein thinks they have exactly that.
“Well, I can tell you, I’ve seen Luca first-hand, he looks absolutely fantastic,” he said. “He was another player who had a monster EuroBasket.
“He’s starting a season in, I think, a great place. He’s in as good a place as he’s ever started a season.
“And if the Lakers are a 50-win team, I think he will be at the forefront of the MVP discussion.”
The Lakers face the Warriors on Sunday, with the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings also on the preseason slate. Los Angeles’ season gets underway against Golden State at Staples Center on October 21.
LeBron, who recently drew flak for teasing a retirement announcement only to try and plug cognac, is set to miss the game with sciatica.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin says the team will be ‘overly cautious’ with the 40-year-old.
“I’m told that LeBron’s camp has spoken to the Lakers, and they said, let’s be overly cautious with LeBron, because we want to be looking at the long view here,” he said. “If this team’s going to be contending for a championship, we need LeBron in his best shape from April through June.”
