The Lakeshow Review

As we head deeper in the offseason and inch closer towards the regular season, we’re starting to get a very clear picture of what the 2026 Los Angeles Lakers roster is going to look like. Training camp is less than a month away, and the Lakers seem ready to embark on yet another campaign with their new look group. Newcomers Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart will give the team an infusion of skillsets that they did not have last year. However, on a team with Luka Dončić and an older LeBron James, the phrase ‘Win-Now’ is ever-present in the franchise’s outlook. The Lakers and GM Rob Pelinka have done well this offseason, and their additions have been largely solid. But as is expected of this franchise, the pursuit of excellence is non-stop. Thus, there are still areas of the roster where the team can improve. The main one of those being perimeter defense; that is an area where the team, despite marginal improvements, can still do better.

Enter Andrew Wiggins. The 30-year old Heat journeyman, despite his many talents, finds himself in a unique situation with his current franchise. The Heat are a team in transition. They traded Jimmy Butler last season. Now, they look to build around some of their young pillars: Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Wiggins looks to be an odd man out. He’s still a talented player, no doubt, but his age perhaps suggests that he and the Miami are not on the same timeline. He also happens to be a sizeable expiring contract, with Miami having not placed an extension for him on the table. This usually means one thing: trade bait. While he is a good player, Miami, in my opinion, correctly view Wiggins’ optimal value as that of a trade chip that can net them assets. The only problem with Miami and Wiggins is his price tag has been much too high, perhaps even unrealistic. Miami clearly want to trade him, but only seem willing to do so under the guise that they are trading a way a star player. One that commands assets, draft picks and even a young player in return. Wiggins is certainly good, but is he that good?

The Lakers, for their part, have done well in maintaining future flexibility. All of their offseason additions have come via free agency, where despite their limited resources, they were able to add considerable talent upgrades without having to reach back into their limited assets chest. The Lakers could proverbially swing a trade for Andrew Wiggins, should the opportunity present itself. But it takes two to tango, and then there’s the Miami angle. The Heat have repeatedly stated that they intend to keep Wiggins, and that he will be a valuable piece to their upcoming campaign. I’m not sure that I buy that given that Miami has yet to offer Wiggins an extension. As it stands it’s questionable if the Heat are a playoff team in the Eastern Conference, but given how weak the East is, perhaps they will sneak in as a lower seed. But is that even worth it? Miami’s best strategy is to tank, and roll into the 2026 offseason with a high draft pick plus ammunition to add pieces. Trading away Wiggins certainly helps them do that, while keeping him accomplishes the opposite. It’ll be interesting to see how the Heat proceed with Wiggins and his salary. But if and when he’s made available, he’s certainly a piece that should attract the Lakers, as he provides exactly what they need: an athletic two-way presence that can raise the team’s defensive ceiling and fit in with Luka Dončić.

There are some around NBA circles that believe that the Lakers will continue to heavily monitor their options on the trade market, and eventually pull the trigger on the right deal. Should Wiggins be made available, the Lakers would look to be players in such a scenario. Legendary reporter of ESPN fame Marc Stein, had this to say:

“The Lakers are in win-now mode.

They signed Luka Dončić to a three-year max contract extension worth $165 million on the first day such a deal was permissible (Aug. 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.

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’ll swing a deal for just anyone between now and the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but league sources say L.A. would indeed have interest in adding a two-way swingman who can raise their ceiling.”

Specifically as it pertains to Wiggins, he mentioned the following:

“The sort of player who is likely to interest the Lakers?

My read (if Miami were to make him available): Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins, 30, 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 Dončić’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.“

Personally, I’d like to see the Lakers target Andrew Wiggins, but only at the right price. If that price is Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and a second round pick, then by all means, jump on that. But if that tag somehow spikes up to Rui Hachimura, a first rounder and (gulp) Austin Reaves, then that’s a hard pass. Andrew Wiggins potentially solves some of the team’s issues, and his acquisition will go a long ways to show Luka that the Lakers are committed to putting the right pieces around him. However, is getting Andrew Wiggins worth sacrificing flexibility and committing future salary to? Perhaps. Is Andrew Wiggins worth the flexibility, salary and additional assets such as a first rounder? Hell no. It’s important to keep things in perspective. Yes, the Lakers should perennially be on the look-out to improve the roster. Alas, at the right price. Andrew Wiggins is definitely worth some combination of Rui, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and a second round pick. He isn’t worth much more than that, and his own team knows it given that they haven’t put an extension in front of him. They want to move him, and are selling high. For the Lakers, the best course of action is the same one they’ve been adopting as of late. Patience. If the right deal emerges, then they’ll pull the trigger. Until then, they’ll continue to diligently observe the market and see where they can fit in. This is the best strategy. Go Lakers.