The Miami Heat are considering flexing their payroll following Jimmy Butler's departure.
The Los Angeles Lakers made several specific and, in the view of many analysts, positive moves this NBA offseason. The arrivals of Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and Deandre Ayton should add significant value to the Los Angeles roster. However, after also securing Luka Doncic, who signed a three-year, $165 million extension, the Lakers are now targeting Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat.
With the Slovenian secured even before leaving for EuroBasket 2025, the board is breathing a sigh of relief and is now turning its attention to the market. Thus, as mentioned and also reported by Marc Stein, Wiggins’ name is the franchise’s main interest currently.
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First, the Lakers are looking for a versatile wing player capable of contributing on both ends of the floor. Wiggins’ contract situation could pave the way: he has a $30.2 million player option for 2025-26, but he’s already shown in Golden State—especially during the 2022 title run—that he can be a reliable starter on an elite team.
The Miami Heat, meanwhile, are considering flexing their payroll following Jimmy Butler’s departure. In this scenario, moving Wiggins could be a logical option. For the Lakers, it’s an opportunity to add experience and defensive strength alongside Doncic and LeBron James.
The options depend on what Miami wants in return. If the goal is simply to clear cap space, the Lakers could send expiring contracts like Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent, totaling around $22.5 million, plus young Dalton Knecht as a future asset.
On the other hand, if the Heat want to maintain immediate competitiveness, players like Rui Hachimura enter the equation. Previously, in another offseason, the Lakers already encountered the Heat’s primary demands to complete the deal. His expiring $18 million contract combined with another player would facilitate the deal. Austin Reaves, on the other hand, is considered untouchable, given the Lakers’ confidence in his growth.
For years, the Lakers were hesitant to make long-term commitments or give up valuable assets, a stance that often frustrated LeBron James. But with Doncic firmly in place as a cornerstone, the margin for error shrinks—even when faced with risks, the team maintains a high level of competition.
This opens the door for bolder moves. Andrew Wiggins may be just the first target in a window where the Lakers intend to make it clear that, with Doncic in charge as the “face of the franchise,” the immediate future is now.
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