Lakers insider loves the idea of trading for former All-Star wing

USA Today

a day ago

Lakers insider loves the idea of trading for former All-Star wing
Most of the attention, as far as the Los Angeles Lakers' needs, has been focused on their very weak center rotation. But they also need help at the wing spot, whether that means getting a starting-level two-way wing or simply one or two 3-and-D players who will contribute off the bench.
Some Lakers fans are likely hoping the team can land Andrew Wiggins, a two-way wing who currently plays for the Miami Heat. He had previously played for the Golden State Warriors, where he was an All-Star starter and won an NBA championship in 2022. This season, he averaged 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists a game, and he hit 37.4% of his 5.8 3-point attempts per game.
After sending Jimmy Butler to the Warriors in February and receiving Wiggins in that trade, the Heat could very well be inclined to make significant changes this offseason. When asked about a hypothetical trade that would send out Rui Hachimura for Wiggins, Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha said during a recent episode of "Buha's Block" that Wiggins would fill several needs for Los Angeles (h/t Lakers Daily).
'I like that trade,' Buha said. 'I know Wiggins has been a popular guy for Lakers Twitter. He is someone that — I think among the realistic options — he is someone that would check a lot of boxes for the Lakers.'
Wiggins, who is 30 years of age, would presumably do a better job of guarding wings and guards than Hachimura, whose natural position is power forward, can. As a natural 3, he would be a better fit alongside LeBron James, who seems to be best suited to playing the 4 at this point in his career.
Wiggins will make $28.2 million next season, so he would cost L.A. quite a bit in terms of trade assets. But perhaps he would be worth going after, as long as the team would have enough remaining trade assets to upgrade at the 5.