The odds of the Miami Heat losing Andrew Wiggins for nothing this offseason just might've grown exponentially.
The Heat's decision to keep Andrew Wiggins on the roster beyond the NBA Trade Deadline only looks worse after a recent rumor. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers are already having discussions about targeting Wiggins in free agency.
This type of backchanneling could make way for Wiggins opting to test free agency in an attempt to secure a multi-year contract, rather than opting into the final year of his contract with the Heat. If this were to happen, this would be a pretty huge disaster for the Heat.
Miami has been burned in the past when it comes to losing free agents for essentially nothing, and the fact that it could, once again, be playing out right before their eyes would be a pretty bad offseason scenario.
The Heat haven't learned from their past mistakes
Over the last few years, the Heat have lost Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent, and P.J. Tucker for essentially nothing in free agency. Sure, they managed to work out a sign-and-trade for a couple of those players, but, for the most part, the Heat are losing valuable contributors for virtually nothing.
The worst part about it is that almost all of these scenarios could've been avoided had the Heat been willing to make a proactive move a few months earlier at the trade deadline.
And, as another one of these potential scenarios begins to emerge, it does seem as if the Heat haven't learned from their past mistakes.
At this point, the Heat's front office has a tendency, and it doesn't include trading a player before they could leave for nothing in free agency. With how the front office has done business of late, none of this should be surprising.
Still, it doesn't lighten the blow of how foolish these missed opportunities look in retrospect.
In theory, it would make sense for a playoff-contending team to keep Wiggins on the roster ahead of a postseason push. However, logistically, especially considering the Heat's financial situation heading into the summer, this looks like a big mistake.
Even if the Heat wanted to keep Wiggins long-term, it's hard to envision how Miami could afford to give him an extension this offseason. That reality only makes this decision look even more disastrous.
In this specific scenario, the risk outweighs the potential reward for Miami. And it's unfortunate that the front office didn't have the vision to see that.
If this recent rumor is any indication, there's no question that it's starting to look like the Heat may have missed on another great opportunity to avoid losing a valuable contributor for nothing.
For one reason or another, the Heat's front office didn't see it that way, and it could end up costing them in a few months.