The Los Angeles Lakers face a tough decision if they want to bring Andrew Wiggins to their roster, with the Miami Heat demanding a hefty package in return.
Miami wants Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura, and a first-round draft pick for Wiggins – similar to what the Lakers nearly gave up for Mark Williams before that deal fell apart in February.
The Lakers had agreed to send Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick to Charlotte, but backed out when Williams failed his physical.
That steep price made sense when the Lakers desperately needed a center. Wiggins would strengthen their frontcourt, but is he worth such a valuable collection of assets?
Wiggins was once a key piece in Golden State’s championship run during the 2021-22 season. He averaged 17.2 points while shooting 46.6% and earned an All-Star selection that year.
The 30-year-old has been solid for Miami since joining at last season’s trade deadline. In 17 starts with the Heat, he put up 19 points per game while shooting 45.8% from the floor and 36% from three-point range.
After Miami’s disappointing 37-45 season and first-round playoff sweep by Cleveland, the team reportedly included Wiggins in trade packages for Kevin Durant. Those talks happened before Durant ultimately landed in Houston.
Money complicates things even further.
Wiggins is set to make $28.2 million next season and holds a $30.2 million player option for 2026-27. That’s a lot of cash for someone who hasn’t averaged 20+ points since the 2019-20 season.
While he’s still a good defender, he’s not quite the same dynamic wing player he once was.
The Lakers have been busy reshaping their roster this offseason. They recently brought back center Jaxson Hayes on a one-year deal, just a day after signing Deandre Ayton to a two-year, $16.6 million contract with a player option for the second year.
The Lakers will pay Ayton $8.1 million next season – what’s left of their midlevel exception after signing Jake LaRavia. Between Portland’s buyout and his new Lakers deal, Ayton will collect about $34 million next season.
Looking ahead, Jarred Vanderbilt is currently the only Laker with a guaranteed contract for the 2026-27 season. LeBron James has a $49 million player option that year and becomes eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension on August 2.
