The Los Angeles Lakers are still searching for a move that could elevate them into true NBA Finals contention. Both LeBron James and Luka Dončić are focused on chasing a championship, and the Lakers need to make something happen soon to meet those expectations. James has made it clear that winning remains his top priority.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
In a recent trade proposal, the Lakers are linked to Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins in a deal aimed at moving the needle toward contention.
“The most likely trade scenario would see the Lakers send Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, and a 2032 second-round pick for Wiggins. It might not be a star-studded return for Wiggins, but it’s fair value for him. Wiggins is probably better than Hachimura but not dramatically so; thus, the addition of former first-round pick Knecht and a 2032 second,” Hoops Habit’s Cal Durrett wrote.
Wiggins would be a solid addition for Los Angeles. If he plays well this season, he could opt out of his current deal and re-sign with the Lakers.
“Using Stein’s logic that the Lakers are willing to take on a longer salary, Wiggins only has one year left after this coming season. If he fits well, he could opt out and re-sign on a lower but longer annual deal. Or Los Angeles could use his expiring contract in a future deal. From a basketball perspective, the 30-year-old would step in as the team’s best perimeter defender. At 6’7″, he’d fill the role left by the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith,” Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus wrote.
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This is a move that would likely please both James and Dončić. The Lakers wouldn’t be giving up much outside of Hachimura, as Kleber and Knecht aren’t expected to play major roles this season.
As for the Heat, they’ve always valued shooters — and that’s exactly what Knecht and Kleber bring to the table. This could turn out to be a win for both sides.
