Lakers Trade Rumors: Insider ‘Confident’ On Massive Scoop About LA's Andrew Wiggins Stance 

The LA Lakers have been heavily linked with Andrew Wiggins over the past few weeks. However, no deal has materialized. The Heat's asking prize centered around Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and LA's only tradeable first-round pick was reportedly responsible for halting talks from escalating.

However, on Monday's episode of "The Zach Lowe Show," Lakers insider Dan Woike shot down the rumors. As Lowe approached a segment of proposing a trade pitch reuniting James and the Heat with Wiggins as one of the moving pieces, Woike said:

"They're [Lakers] not interested in Wiggins. I think I can put that to bed. I'm pretty confident on that."

The Lakers have limited assets, and it's unlikely that they will use some of their best ones on 30-year-old Wiggins, who will make around $59 million over the next two seasons. While his perimeter defense would provide a much-needed boost to LA, it won't make sense for the Lakers to invest assets like Hachimura, Knecht and the 2031 pick in this deal.

They can instead retain them and have more flexibility in 2026, with three first-round picks to trade (2026, 2031 and 2033). In 2027, it would allow them to have more cap flexibility.

Lakers have been calculative this offseason in roster retooling around Luka Doncic

The LA Lakers are optimizing their resources this offseason. They have addressed two needs thus far: adding a starting caliber center, Deandre Ayton and a two-way wing, Jake LaRavia, using the non-taxpayer exception after Dorian Finney-Smith departed to join the Rockets on a four-year deal.

The Lakers didn't want to offer any player more than two years, and they have stuck with that process. They also brought back Jaxson Hayes as a backup big on a one-year deal, offering him 120% of his salary from last season.

LA is linked with Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard in free agency as it looks to bolster its rotation come playoff time. The team remains on the lookout for more perimeter defense, and that could come through marginal upgrades.

Matisse Thybulle is one of the trade targets for LA, who could fit that role. He's on an expiring deal and may not cost much.