Reporter Stein:The Lakers want a wing who can contribute on offense and defense and boost the team’s potential. If the Heat decide to cut payroll down the line, they might seize the chance to trade for Wiggins.

Wiggins is currently under contract until the summer of 2027, with salaries of $28.22 million and $30.17 million for the upcoming two seasons. The Lakers were initially hesitant to acquire players with multi-year deals, but after Doncic’s 3-year, $165 million extension, that position has somewhat relaxed.

If the Lakers form a wing lineup of Doncic, LeBron James, Wiggins, Hachimura, LaRavia, and Vanderbilt, they would have one of the deepest wing rotations in the league next season, which would significantly help their bid for the 2025-26 championship.

Back in February, Wiggins was traded by the Warriors to Miami in the Butler deal. Last season, he played 17 regular-season games for the Heat, averaging 32.1 minutes, 19 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals, with shooting splits of 45.8%, 36%, and 73.1%. In the playoffs, he averaged 30.5 minutes, 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks, shooting 37.2%, 35%, and 70%.

Wiggins played a key role in helping the Warriors win the championship in 2022, proving himself in high-level competition. This shows that he performs best on title-contending teams. Conversely, on borderline playoff or weaker teams like the Heat, his role feels awkward, which explains why he has been frequently linked to trade rumors this summer.

By the way, LeBron’s contract expires next summer with a salary of $52.63 million, and the Lakers have no plans to re-sign him. So if Wiggins brings his talent to the Lakers, in a way, he could be seen as a replacement for LeBron, potentially taking over as early as the 2026-27 season.

Of course, considering the Lakers plan big moves in the summer of 2027, when Wiggins’ contract also expires, he might face a similar fate as LeBron and be let go unless the team finds his desired contract length manageable.

Whether it’s the Lakers or other teams, a championship contender should be the ideal destination for Wiggins!