Latest news with #AndrewWiggins
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers Make Massive Roster Decision Following Bold Draft Trade
Lakers Make Massive Roster Decision Following Bold Draft Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers have made a move in the 2025 NBA draft. The team has traded up with the Chicago Bulls to land pick No. 45 in exchange for pick No. 55 and cash. Advertisement Los Angeles had been trying to move up to land a cheap player, and Chicago bit at the price the team was comfortable with. The Lakers didn't have many assets to work with either, but they must be targeting a player in that range to make this move. However, due to this trade, the Lakers have just made a massive roster decision for the upcoming season. Because they are sending out cash, the Lakers will now be hard-capped at the second apron for next year. Los Angeles wasn't likely to go over the second apron anyway, so this likely won't affect team-building. But the Lakers are now unable to spend extra if the opportunity presents itself. Los Angeles is still searching for a center to help upgrade the frontcourt. Everyone around the NBA knows that the team needs help in that area, so the prices for a center have continued to be very high. Advertisement The Lakers also need help at the wing position, and they have been rumored to be in active discussions. Veteran Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat has reportedly been a target of the team, but nothing has come to fruition of yet. The front office has a lot of work to do this summer if it wants to build a title-contending team. But with Luka Doncic and LeBron James in the mix, Los Angeles will do whatever it can to win games next season. Related: Warriors' Steph Curry Sends Major Message Ahead of NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: Lakers check in with Heat on Andrew Wiggins trade
The post NBA rumors: Lakers check in with Heat on Andrew Wiggins trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. As Miami Heat star Andrew Wiggins has reportedly been made available in trade talks, there is one team that has shown interest in acquiring the former champion with the Golden State Warriors. With the immense rumors about the Lakers and looking to improve, it looks as if the team sees Wiggins as a potential acquisition. Advertisement According to ClutchPoints' Senior Lakers insider Anthony F. Irwin on his show 'Lakers Lounge,' Los Angeles has 'checked' on Wiggins and even has asked Miami 'about what the price would be.' He would go on to say that with the team's ties with Heat president Pat Riley, since he was the head coach of the Lakers from 1981-1990, the franchise is gauging what he saw from Wiggins ever since he was traded to Miami in the Jimmy Butler deal. 'I will say that the Lakers again, because of their relationship with Pat Riley, I would imagine they are very well in tune with what Pat thinks of what he saw from Andrew Wiggins, which I don't think was all that great,' Irwin said. 'I don't know, but the Lakers have checked in on him. They have asked about what the price would be.' 'In practice, you know, the thing with Wiggins is that the practical application of Andrew Wiggins isn't always what the theoretical Andrew Wiggins gets hyped up to be,' Irwin continued. 'And you arrive at a pretty meh experience, sometimes.': Lakers with interest in Heat's Andrew Wiggins Sam Navarro-Imagn Images While the Lakers have rumors surrounding such players as Austin Reaves, the primary goal is to continue to build around Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Wiggins has been a productive player, but Irwin has some concerns in regards to how 'driven he is,' which the team takes 'very seriously.' Advertisement 'Have I heard of any interest in him? I think right now the Lakers are interested in any athlete,' Irwin said. 'But there have been some other situations there where it's like you aren't necessarily sure if basketball is the highest priority, and when you have a guy making that much money, like, I better eat, sleep, and breathe the sport,' Irwin continued. 'So some of those questions about how driven he is, those are the kinds of things that the Lakers take very seriously.' At any rate, Los Angeles looks to improve after a disappointing early playoff exit after finishing third in the West. Related: Lakers' LeBron James hilariously recalls 'most egregious' travel of his career Related: Lakers rumors: LA interested in Luka Doncic's ex-Mavericks teammate
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers rumors: What Rob Pelinka isn't ‘thrilled' about in trade talks
The post Lakers rumors: What Rob Pelinka isn't 'thrilled' about in trade talks appeared first on ClutchPoints. Amid the beginning of what's already been an exciting offseason, days removed from the 2025 NBA Finals, Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers will look to improve their roster to compete with the champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Advertisement The Houston Rockets' blockbuster move for Kevin Durant set the tone for a busy summer across the association. The Lakers are reportedly interested in acquiring Andrew Wiggins from the Miami Heat, but executing a deal won't be easy. In a proposed deal centered around Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and Wiggins, Pelinka is reportedly growing frustrated with the Heat's asking price, per ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin. 'Now, fans may be wondering why the Lakers would entertain this kind of deal while their center spot is in such dire straits, but league sources say Rob Pelinka hasn't been thrilled with the asking prices he has been presented with this summer in trade talks,' Irwin reports. 'If they went ahead with this deal or something similar, look for the Lakers to acquire next year's starting center with their mid-level exception. As things stand right now, they would have access to the taxpayer mid-level exception, worth $5.7 million.' There's also a possibility that the Lakers are in the market for a center, and they're allowing the misleading reports about Wiggins run amok. Advertisement 'It's also possible these kinds of rumors are being floated so that those teams the Lakers have been holding trade talks with for a starting center might believe they're serious about using their trade assets on something else if prices for centers don't drop,' Irwin adds. 'This is smokescreen season, after all.' The Lakers have had a thin frontcourt ever since their trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams was rescinded due to a failed physical. Many anticipate that Los Angeles will address those concerns at some point during the Lakers' offseason this summer. Lakers checked in with Heat on Andrew Wiggins trade? Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Lakers' interest in Andrew Wiggins is intriguing, considering his championship experience with the 2022 Warriors and defensive flexibility. The thought of adding Wiggins to the starting lineup piqued Lakers GM Rob Pelinka's interest, per ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin. Advertisement 'I will say that the Lakers again, because of their relationship with Pat Riley, I would imagine they are very well in tune with what Pat thinks of what he saw from Andrew Wiggins, which I don't think was all that great,' Irwin said. 'I don't know, but the Lakers have checked in on him. They have asked about what the price would be.' That price may fluctuate between now and the end of the offseason. Related: Lakers fans react to Suns' wild Mark Williams trade after previous fail Related: Sources: Lakers, Heat moving forward with Andrew Wiggins trade talks
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Lakers Contacted Heat About Potential All-Star Trade
Report: Lakers Contacted Heat About Potential All-Star Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Everyone around the NBA knows that the Los Angeles Lakers need a center as the offseason gets going. However, the Lakers do have more needs that the front office needs to address across the roster. Advertisement One of those needs is along the wing, and the Lakers have been rumored to be looking to add more talent. Los Angeles is likely to retain Dorian Finney-Smith, but they also need more help. A name that has started to circulate around the Lakers is veteran wing Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat. Wiggins could check a lot of boxes for the Lakers, and it seems that the team could be interested in landing him. Lakers insider Anthony Irwin reported that Los Angeles has checked in on Wiggins with Miami. Irwin mentioned that the contract situation could make things tough, but it seems that the Lakers are doing their due diligence. "Wiggins... have I heard of any interest in him? I think right now the Lakers are interested in any athlete," Irwin began on the Lakers Lounge. "Now Wiggins does make a little too much money for my liking. $28 million is a lot for Andrew Wiggins. I would imagine they are very well in tune with what Pat thinks of Andrew Wiggins, but the Lakers have checked in on him and asked about what the price would be." Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14), guard Davion Mitchell (45), forward Andrew Wiggins (22) and center Bam Adebayo (13) high five after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first Adams-Imagn Images Adding a player like Wiggins could help the Lakers, especially on the defensive side of the ball. While he isn't the same level of defender that he once was, Wiggins is much more skilled defensively than Rui Hachimura. Advertisement In 17 games with the Heat this season, Wiggins averaged 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Los Angeles would likely need to send a decent amount out to land Wiggins, but it could be worth it. If the Lakers are looking to address the center position with a "stop-gap" type of player, the front office could look to land Wiggins as the big move. Adding him to a team with Luka Doncic and LeBron James could make the Lakers much more formidable, giving them a better chance to win a title next season. Related: 76ers Predicted to Trade Joel Embiid to West Powerhouse For Massive Haul This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Insider: Lakers have checked in on All-Star wing
While the Los Angeles Lakers badly need a starting-level center, they're also cognizant that they have other roster needs that need to be addressed if they are to become legitimate championship contenders. One of those other needs is another two-way wing. Dorian Finney-Smith made a significant impact on the team upon arriving in a late December trade, but at this point in his career, he's primarily a power forward. The Lakers could use an athletic wing who can play the 2 or 3 positions (or both), hit 3-pointers and defend at a high level. Andrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat does all that and more. He has been mentioned as someone L.A. should perhaps go after and could perhaps land. Indeed, insider Anthony Irwin said on his "Lakers Lounge" podcast that the team has talked to Miami about Wiggins (h/t Athlon Sports). "Wiggins… have I heard of any interest in him? I think right now the Lakers are interested in any athlete," Irwin began on the Lakers Lounge. "Now Wiggins does make a little too much money for my liking. $28 million is a lot for Andrew Wiggins. I would imagine they are very well in tune with what Pat [Riley] thinks of Andrew Wiggins, but the Lakers have checked in on him and asked about what the price would be." Wiggins averaged 18.0 points a game and shot 37.4% from 3-point range this season. After he was traded to the Golden State Warriors five years ago, he reinvented himself into a two-way player after he had been regarded as a low-efficiency, no-defense-playing chucker during his initial years with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors sent him to Miami in February as part of the deal that brought them six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler. Wiggins could potentially start at the 3 for the Lakers and guard multiple positions on the perimeter, and his experience winning the 2022 NBA championship in Golden State wouldn't exactly hurt either.
