The Los Angeles Lakers are in search of a strong wing to complement LeBron James and Luka Doncic, but the Miami Heat have remained firm on Andrew Wiggins.
Wiggins has appeared in nearly every trade rumor this season, though the Lakers‘ efforts to acquire him have been stymied by Miami‘s unwillingness to move him.
The development comes after Los Angeles previously explored a trade last summer, but rejected Miami‘s asking price of two rotation players and a first-round pick, and similar proposals have yet to gain traction.
Andrew Wiggins 2025-26 NBA Season Stats
The Lakers are packaging expiring deals such as Rui Hachimura ($18.2M), Gabe Vincent ($11.5M), and Maxi Kleber ($11M), along with second-year guard Dalton Knecht, but offers have not swayed Miami.
“The Lakers are now pressed for time to find a key wing upgrade before the trade deadline,” Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported. “Despite continued interest in Andrew Wiggins, the Heat don’t appear to have interest in anything the Lakers have offered.”
Adding complexity is Wiggins‘ $28.2M salary, which makes him a valuable match for Miami if they pursue a potential blockbuster deal involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Similar frustrations have hit other trade talks, with Golden State reportedly rejecting Lakers proposals involving Jonathan Kuminga, signaling that Los Angeles may be prioritizing long-term flexibility.
Jake Fischer notes the Lakers‘ failure to acquire Keon Ellis further suggests that GM Rob Pelinka is weighing patience over aggressive trades, focusing on building around Doncic and Austin Reaves this summer.
With LeBron coming off the books, the team could have over $55M in cap space, leaving room to explore major acquisitions once the offseason opens, instead of forcing a last-minute deadline trade.
Knicks brush aside LeBron, Doncic and poor Lakers
OG Anunoby scored 25 points, Landry Shamet added 23, and the New York Knicks beat the Lakers 112-100, spoiling LeBron James‘ 32nd game at Madison Square Garden this season.
Josh Hart finished with 20 points and Jalen Brunson added 12 points and 13 assists as New York matched a season-high sixth consecutive win, many of them comfortable.
LeBron scored 22 points with six assists and five rebounds, marking his 22nd consecutive All-Star selection, while Luka Doncic tallied 30 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists in defeat.
The Knicks surged in the third quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 38-26, closing with three straight transition baskets and three 3-pointers to carry a 90-82 lead into the fourth quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 11 points and 13 rebounds, and the Lakers, now 29-19, will try to recover against the 13-35 Brooklyn Nets on February 4, with tip-off at 19:30 ET/16:30 PT.
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