Lakers Trade Idea Brings In NBA Champion For Key Starter and Dalton Knecht

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to upgrade their roster before the 2025-26 NBA season starts. With Luka Dončić looking like he is ready to have an MVP-level season, the Lakers are going to get aggressive to upgrade around him.

That’s why Lakers trade rumors have started to swirl. One player who has recently been linked to Lakers trade rumors is Andrew Wiggins. The Lakers are reportedly looking to pursue Wiggins to bring in another elite defender and secondary scorer. 

Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus came up with a Lakers trade proposal that would bring Wiggins to the Lakers. 

“Lakers get: Andrew Wiggins (from Heat)

Jaime Jaquez Jr. (from Heat)

Drew Timme (from Nets)

Heat get: Rui Hachimura (from Lakers)

Dalton Knecht (from Lakers)

$10 million trade exception (Wiggins)

Nets get: Maxi Kleber (from Lakers)

2026 protected Brooklyn second-rounder (from Heat)

$4.6 million (from Nets)

$2 million (from Lakers)

Notes: The Lakers aggregate Hachimura, Knecht, and Kleber to acquire Wiggins and Jaquez, while Brooklyn uses cap room to absorb Kleber's salary.”

Does this trade improve the Lakers? Potentially. Wiggins is a better player than Hachimura, but not by too significant a margin. Wiggins averaged 19 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists for the Heat last season. Meanwhile, Hachimura averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists for the Lakers. It is worth noting that Hachimura shot over 40% from three and 50% from the field, while Wiggins was more of a high-volume, lower-efficiency scorer.

In reality, this trade would never happen. The Heat are giving up the best player and the better prospect in the deal. So while the Lakers may want to trade for Wiggins, this trade is unlikely to get it done.