Heat may have found perfect suitor for Andrew Wiggins out West - Hot Hot Hoops

The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat reportedly engaged in trade talks for Andrew Wiggins last summer. (Mandatory Credit: Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

There have been a slew of injuries to star players throughout the NBA, including the Miami Heat. Tyler Herro is set to miss his 26th game of the season on Saturday, while Bam Adebayo is expected to miss his 8th.

The list doesn’t end there: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Anthony Davis, Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards, among several others, have all had prolonged absences due to injury.

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a big blow Friday. Austin Reaves will miss at least the next month with a groin strain, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain and will be reevaluated in four weeks.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 27, 2025

While this doesn’t directly affect the Heat, let’s not forget they were rumored to have interest in this veteran wing who can help solve some of their existing problems, especially in Reaves’ absence.

Could Lakers’ past interest in Andrew Wiggins re-appear?!

Earlier this summer, the Lakers reportedly showed interest in the 30-year-old wing, where trade talks surfaced. None came to fruition, with Miami entering the season with Wiggins after acquiring him in February.

Make no mistake, Reaves and Wiggins are completely different players. Reaves is one of the league’s top young shot creators. Wiggins, on the other hand, is an ancillary two-way wing who can defend multiple positions, crash the glass and knock down 3s.

While Reaves is a below-average defender, at best, JJ Redick’s recent feud suggests the Lakers need new juice in the building. However, not only do they need multi-positional defenders — they need shotmakers. The Lakers are currently the seventh-worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA.

Wiggins, 30, is averaging 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 47.1 percent shooting, 37.9 percent from 3-point range and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line. At times, he’s fairly streaky with his shot-making and decision-making. But he doesn’t mind playing a role — one that the Lakers should be seeking regardless of Reaves’ status.

There’s no guarantee that negotiations materialize between now and the Feb. 5 trade deadline. But it would behoove the Lakers to target a two-way wing after letting Dorian Finney-Smith walk this offseason.

Both the Heat and Lakers are hard-capped at the first apron. Los Angeles is $1.1 million below that threshold, while Miami is $7.1 million below. Thus, it may be difficult for either side to execute a two-team swap. It doesn’t help that any realistic Lakers package, minus the lone first-round pick they can trade (2031), is pretty undesirable.

This is purely speculative: But I would not be surprised if the two sides explore a potential deal over the next few weeks. Desperate organizations commit desperate actions. And I could see the Lakers, currently 19-10, being extra desperate amid Reaves’ injury and their recent struggles.

Heat may have found perfect suitor for Andrew Wiggins out West – Hot Hot Hoops

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