Andrew Wiggins could be the missing piece to the Lakers' championship puzzle

The Los Angeles Lakers are officially in the Luka Doncic era. That means Los Angeles has to be precise about who they put around him and LeBron James. The stars are set. The holes are obvious, and Miami Heat guard Andrew Wiggins might be the solution.

Andrew Wiggins has been linked to Lakers in trade rumors

According to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Lakers are circling back to Wiggins as a potential target. With Doncic now committed long-term, L.A. feels more comfortable absorbing a sizable wing contract if it plugs a glaring hole.

One trade framework floated in league chatter includes Rui Hachimura and rookie Dalton Knecht heading to Miami in exchange for Wiggins. Hachimura is viewed as a logical trade piece: He’s productive, but he doesn’t bring the defensive versatility L.A. badly needs on the wing. Miami, meanwhile, could covet a younger forward with upside along with draft compensation.

Wiggins is signed to a $109 million extension he inked with Golden State in October 2022. For the 2025-26 season, he’s owed $28.2 million, and he holds a player option of $30.17 million for 2026-27. It’s not cheap, but it’s also not an immovable contract for a franchise operating in win-now mode with LeBron and Doncic.

Andrew Wiggins' fit with Lakers

Wiggins isn’t the All-Star wing he briefly was in 2022, but he still averaged 17.6 points on nearly 38% shooting from three in Golden State last year before being traded. In Miami, his numbers ticked up to 19 points a night with solid rebounding and defense. He’s no longer asked to be “the guy,” and that’s exactly why he fits in Los Angeles.

The Lakers rotation is strong but uneven. Doncic controls everything on offense. LeBron, at 41, picks his spots but remains a nightmare when locked in. Deandre Ayton protects the rim and finishes inside. Marcus Smart hounds guards and provides toughness. Austin Reaves offers steady playmaking and spacing. Off the bench, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes and Bronny James bring energy. The piece that’s missing? A dependable two-way forward. That’s Wiggins’ lane.

With Doncic and LeBron demanding double-teams, Wiggins would live off the easiest shots of his career. He doesn’t need touches to stay engaged — he just has to cut hard, defend on the perimeter and hit open looks. And defensively, he’s big enough to handle opposing wings, which frees up Smart to chase guards and allows LeBron to save energy.

Of course, this isn’t free. Wiggins is owed $28.2 million this season and holds a $30.2 million player option for 2026-27. That’s why trade talks almost always include Hachimura as the outgoing piece. Miami values young forwards and picks, and Hachimura checks that box. For the Lakers, it’s a sacrifice — but not a devastating one.

There are risks. Wiggins’ defense slipped last year, and a late-season tendon issue with Miami raised concerns about durability. His focus can drift when his role isn’t clear. And the Lakers would be investing serious salary in a player who isn’t guaranteed to be elite.

But here’s the thing: They don’t need elite. They just need reliable. Someone who can start 30 minutes in the playoffs, guard the other team’s best scorer, and hit shots when Doncic or LeBron kick it out. That’s why Wiggins makes sense.

If the Lakers can land him at the right cost, he could be the piece who finally balances this roster. He’s not a star, not a savior — but sometimes the missing puzzle piece isn’t supposed to be flashy. It just has to fit.