Lakers New AGGRESSIVE Trade Mindset + Offering Dalton Knecht for Andrew Wiggins? Here’s What CHANGED

Lakers New AGGRESSIVE Trade Mindset + Offering Dalton Knecht for Andrew Wiggins? Here’s What CHANGED

[Music] You know, for a large majority of this summer, we heard that the Lakers were not aggressive on the trade market, that they didn’t want to take any long-term contracts on through a trade, and that they would rather evaluate their current team rather than make a trade prior to the trade deadline. Though, in the past week, that suddenly completely changed. We’ve now gotten multiple reports saying exactly the opposite of that, that they’re now being aggressive on the trade market, even open to taking on long-term contracts through a trade and that they might even have a trade target in mind. That player being Andrew Wiggins. Now, we heard more about Andrew Wiggins earlier in the offseason, but nothing that really came to fruition and all of it ended that the Lakers weren’t really that interested in him, that they didn’t like his long-term contract, or rather slightly long-term contract that goes beyond simply this season. But again, that suddenly changed. And if you look at the reports and simply look beyond the name Andrew Wiggins, there’s a pretty good hint about it. Whether you’re talking about the report from the Athletic, this coming from Dan Wokei of The Athletic, him citing that the Lakers mind shift is really about Luca Donuch and signing Luca Donuch to the new contract. And if you have not been in touch with Lakers news and the contract I’m referring to, they did sign Luca to a three-year $ 160 million deal back in early August. And well, combined with that and now the shift in mindset that’s reopened their idea to making a trade, being much more aggressive on the trade market and possibly going after a player like Andy Wiggins despite him being under contract beyond this season. And well, real shocker here, but another reporters come out claiming exactly that. This coming from Evan Cider, him saying that the Lakers and Heat have reopened negotiations regarding a potential Andrew Wigan straight ahead of training camp, saying that the Lakers are quote unquote very open to moving former first draft pick Dalton Connect alongside necessary expiring salary, which would likely be guys like Gabe Vincent, Maxi Cleba, and somebody like that to go with Dalton Connect. also citing that Miami wants a future first on draft pick in any trade package that they would negotiate and if there would be a trade regarding Andrew Wiggins that would likely be the compensation with it though there is no reported mention of Rui Hachimura quite yet that’s something that previously been mentioned I think coming from Yoan Buha him citing at one time and this does go back to July if I remember correctly that the Miami Heat reportedly wanted Rui Hachimura Dolan connect and that first draft pick for simply Andrew Wiggins so is that may be different this time around. Maybe, maybe not. But apparently the Lakers mindset is the thing that’s different. Again, going back to that report, they’re now much more aggressive now shifting their mentality to being more aggressive and having some renewed confidence after getting the long-term commitment from Luca Donuch. You know, maybe even a conversation with Luca Donuch. They’ve obviously transitioned their priority from LeBron to now Luca Donuch and building their team around Luca, kind of shifting their long-term plan around him. Luca being younger and therefore have more time to build around him rather than aging LeBron that could retire any season now. That shifted the mentality from more of a short-term perspective now to much more of a long-term perspective and this is where the Andy Wiggins stuff comes from. So now I think the question comes down to two things. One of which being obviously is the price worth it for him? Is it worth it to trade Dalton connect a first one draft pick and then expiring contracts with him? whether or not that Brewy had Chimera or simply gave Vincent and/or Maxa, is that worth it? And then is Andrew Wiggins the guy to kind of reshift their mentality around again taking on a relatively long-term contract, a contract that goes beyond this season, therefore possibly jeopardizing their ability to sign a max player next off season or in the 2027 28 off season. Is it worth it? Is that what they should be looking to do and possibly prior to training camp? Let’s talk about it. And well, beginning with the player and the contract they’ll be trading for here. Obviously, Andrew Wiggins, if you’re not aware, he does have a 2-year contract left, or I guess two years on that contract. Being under contract this season for 28.2 million, then next season having a player option worth 30.1 million. That’s what would be coming with Andrew Wiggins and what would be coming into their salary cap if they would be trading for him. And while the kind of importance with that and maybe their hesitance to trade for that contract prior to getting the commitment from Luca Donuch is with their plans during the 2026 27 NBA season and beyond that point. I mean even after the Luca Donuch contract and that being faded in there they only have three maybe four guaranteed contracts that year. One of which being Luca Donuch, the second one being Jared Vanderbilt and after that point they have no guaranteed contract that’s worth more than 10 million that season. The only other two being Jake the Rabia worth 6 million and then a duo being worth 2.1 million. Every other one the rate player option that’s probably not likely to be opted into between Austin Reeves, DeAndre and Marcus Smart. I mean maybe one of them but not very likely in my opinion. Then the non-G guaranteed contract of Bronny James. They have a pretty open cap that year and maybe have the opportunity to sign a maxle player again. You know whether that’s say Nicole Joic very doubtful but maybe something they’re desperately hoping for. maybe a different option. That’s kind of what they’re looking for and or I guess maybe had been looking for and why they did not want to trade for a contract that went until that season. So potentially adding Andrew Wiggins to that even if they would be offloading a Gabe Vincent and or Maxiba possibly Dolan Connect or maybe Ru Chimra. That’s all contract and salary that’s not currently guaranteed. So if we add the $30.2 $.2 million salary of Andrew Wiggins. Then with the $50 million salary of Luca Donuch, potentially a 30 to $35 million salary of Austin Reeves, maybe even a $20 million one with DeAndre if they would bring him back, they would no longer have room for a max level player after that point, which could potentially be a problem. I mean, think about it this way. Even if the salary cap would go up to roughly 165 million next season, which would be the absolute most they could go up, with the contracts combined of Luca Donuch, Austin Reeves, and Andrew Wiggins, that loan would be roughly 120 million, only 30 million shy of that salary cap, or I guess 40 million. And that wouldn’t be enough to fit in another max contract with them. So, if your top salary cap and top payroll is consistent of Luca Donuch, Austin Reeves, and Andrew Wiggins, three of which that take up more than threequarters of it, I’m not sure that would be the best route to take. Again, I like Andrew Wiggins. I’d love the short-term fit, but if they’re taking on a long-term contract, I’m not sure it should be one that’s maybe not quite worth it, maybe not for over 30 million. Again, I’m open to it, but it has to be for the perfect player and really the perfect timeline for their team, too. And I’m not sure that Andrew Wiggins would fit that. Now again, I’d definitely change my mind if the price would be right for him. If they could simply get him with expiring contracts that don’t include Ruie Hatchima and either Daltton Connect or a first one draft pick, then I definitely do it. At that point, I think it would be worth it. Any shot and any good shot you have to win a championship, you got to take it. And I think Andrew Wiggins could help them this season. But after the point of LeBron leaving, which is pretty likely next season after potentially Andrew Wiggins declining and not being able to add a different level Max player with them, I’m not sure that’ll be worth it anymore at that point. Now, I’m not trying to say that he is a terrible contract, per se. It’s maybe a little bit overpaid, but not terrible. I guess the problem here is that it’s just slightly a little bit more than what would ideally work for their payroll. If it would be more along the lines of 20 to 23 million, then they could actually get pretty close even with trading for him, even with paying Austin Reefs with him, still being able to have a max level or a near maxle player on their payroll and adding that player to their payroll next season. But with Wiggins making over 30 million potentially if Austin Reeves would get over 30 million or right around that amount, then it would be pretty tough at that point. Again, trying to fit the $50 million salary of Luca Donuch, potentially 30 million for Austin Reeves, another 30 million for Andy Wiggins. That right there alone is 120 million, only leaving at the absolute most 40 to 45 million left in cap space, which they wouldn’t even have at that point. Then adding in the contract of Jared Vanderbilt worth 12.4 million next season, the guaranteed contract to Jake Rabia, another 6 million. potentially a player option like Aton or Marcus Smart being opted into which they have zero control over that would not give them enough space to sign a max contract player or even near it at that point and heck then factor in Ruimura if they somehow keep him and don’t have to trade him for Andrew Wiggins that’s probably another 12 to 18 million next season that would have to be factored into their payroll and at that point they virtually have zero cap space left and yes they could get creative and make a sign a trade for a free agent that would allow them to go over the salary recap and potentially add a Deermax level player to their team at that point. Yes, they could get creative with trades and or signing trades, but it would make it a lot more difficult after trading for Andrew Wiggins, after resigning Austin Reeves, then that completely reshapes their cap space and their kind of future mindset with their cap space and payroll going forward, which I’m not entirely against, but again, it maybe not might not be the best route for them to take. I’ve talked about this in prior videos, but I’d personally take an alternative route rather than trading for a more premier trade target like Andrew Wiggins. I guess I’d go after a different two-way wing, a 3 and D wing option. I guess more so along the lines of a Matis Styel, Haywood Highmith, maybe somebody different that not only is a bit younger than Andrew Wiggins, but is neither under contract beyond this season, or if they are, it’s for a much lower salary than Wiggins, and I think would fit better into their future team building, fit better into their future payroll, fit better into their salary cap kind of prioritization, and potentially being able to add a max level player next season or beyond that point. I think that would be the better route for them to take if they’re simply going all in for this season, then I get it. Go ahead and try to make a trade for him. But if it’s more than simply this season, which I think it should be if you’re building around a 26-year-old like Luca Donuch, then maybe think about an alternative route or get a bit more creative with it. But with all of that being said, what do you guys think? How do you feel about the new reports about Andrew Wiggins, the Lakers reported mind shift change, and how that might affect them being aggressive on the trade market even prior to training camp? How do you feel about that? And what role would you personally take? Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below. But I think that’ll pretty much do it for this one. And if you enjoyed the video, then I’ll greatly appreciate it if you dropped a like, subscribe to the channel if you have not already, and hit that notification bell to never miss out when I upload a video. But as always, thank you for watching and have a great day or night. [Music]

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