How The Los Angeles Lakers Can Acquire Andrew Wiggins And Keep Their Star-Studded Core

Like most teams in the NBA right now, the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for an active summer that will make or break their championship status next season. With so many players to consider, countless names have emerged as trade targets, but Andrew Wiggins is someone they are in a favorable position to get.

Across the league, the Lakers are widely considered the favorites to trade for Wiggs, and the latest report out of Miami says that they are actively engaged in discussions for the two-way swingman.

"The Lakers and Heat have continued their trade talks," wrote Anthony Irwin on X. "I reported the other day that the Lakers checked in on Andrew Wiggins, and negotiations have advanced from there. A deal isn't imminent, but there's been plenty of conversation on this front."

Wiggins, 30, has two years left on his contract, including a $30.1 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign. His services wouldn't come cheap for the Lakers, and the cost would be great in a trade, but there is a package that allows the Lakers to acquire Wiggins for an affordable price, and one that would leave them with one of the best starting units in the league.

Proposed Trade Package

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Andrew Wiggins

Miami Heat Receive: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent

After finishing third in the West this season, the Lakers are feeling good about how they hold up against the rest of the league. Still, their first-round elimination reminded them that changes are necessary if they want to maximize their title chances with Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

With Wiggins on the roster, the rotation gets much deeper for JJ Reddick, and the Lakers suddenly become much more well-rounded as a team. With averages of 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game this season, he's a reliable and steady contributor who has a solid impact on both ends of the floor.

Drafted first overall in 2014, Wiggs was being compared to LeBron James coming out of Kansas, and the Timberwolves immediately crowned him as the future of their franchise. He won Rookie of the Year in 2015, but after three years in Minnesota, his numbers began to decline.

Eventually, Wiggins was traded to the Warriors in a major blockbuster trade, and that's where he embraced a whole new role. Alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Wiggins was no longer the star of the show -- rather, he was a role-player along for the ride.

After being traded to the Heat this past season, Wiggins has a chance for another fresh start, but who knows how long it will be before he's with another organization. If the Lakers play their cards right, they can be the ones to end up with the young All-Star and add his scoring abilities alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

In such a critical offseason, the Lakers must make some kind of move to stay ahead of the competition, and Andrew Wiggins is both affordable and talented enough to be a realistic option for them. With many teams in pursuit, Rob Pelinka will have to outbid other GMs, but there is hope that he can get a deal done that will raise their ceiling.