NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers reopen talks with Miami Heat for Andrew Wiggins

The Los Angeles Lakers have been busy this offseason as they aim to challenge for the NBA title in the upcoming 2025–26 season and are reportedly eager to add more pieces to build a championship-caliber roster.

NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported that Lakers management has shifted from its previous stance of avoiding long-term salary commitments in order to pursue stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic within the next two years. Instead, the team is now in “win-now” mode and willing to sign the right player if the situation arises.

“The Lakers are in win-now mode. They signed Luka Doncic to a three-year max contract extension worth $165 million on the first day such a deal was permissible (August 2). They have LeBron James under contract for one more season. And they will be on the lookout, I’m told, for the proverbial right deal to present itself to upgrade on the wing if possible and add to a list of newcomers headlined by Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia,” Stein wrote.

The Heat and Lakers have reopened discussions on a potential Andrew Wiggins trade ahead of training camp.

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. pic.twitter.com/7f8l9MGw06

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) September 13, 2025

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“As I understand it: The Lakers’ reluctance in the early stages of the offseason to consider trades for contracts that stretch beyond the 2025–26 season has thawed somewhat. I don’t think that means they will swing a deal for just anyone between now and the February 5 trade deadline, but league sources say L.A. would indeed have interest in adding a two-way swingman who can raise their ceiling.

“The sort of player who is likely to interest the Lakers? Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins will earn $28.2 million this season and holds a $30.2 million player option for 2026–27. I wouldn’t have classified him as a potential purple-and-gold target before Doncic’s long-term future was secured, but things are different now. So my sense is that the Lakers would have interest if the Heat, in coming weeks or months, decide to prioritize financial flexibility and look to reduce payroll,” Stein added.

It is understood that this change in recruitment strategy has reopened discussions with the Miami Heat to acquire Wiggins. The Lakers are reportedly open to sending Dalton Knecht in a potential trade, though Miami is pushing for a first-round pick. Under current NBA rules, the Lakers only hold one first-round selection.

Selected as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft, Wiggins played five seasons with the Golden State Warriors before being traded to the Miami Heat. The forward is a proven two-way player and was recognized as the Warriors’ second-best contributor during their 2022 championship run. Last season, he averaged 18.0 points on 44.8 percent shooting from the field and 37.4 percent from three-point range, and he remains regarded as an athletic, tenacious defender.

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