All summer long, there's been a push from the fan base for the Miami Heat to trade Andrew Wiggins. However, according to some recent reporting, it doesn't seem as if that has been received well by the front office. In fact, the Heat's unwillingness to trade Wiggins tells us just how much they value him heading into this season.
According to Heat insider Ira Winderman, no one in the front office has spoken privately or publicly about a desire to trade Wiggins. While that can surely change over the course of the next few months, especially if the right deal is offered, it does seem as if he's expected to be on the team's roster this season.
And that might be the best course of action at the moment for the Heat, both on and off the floor.
Wiggins is third best player on the roster
From a pure talent perspective, Wiggins is probably the Heat's third-best player on the roster behind Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. If the Heat are looking to remain competitive in this "gap" year, it would make sense to keep Wiggins on the roster. At least to start the season.
Even though Wiggins did have a rough end to last season, which had a lot to do with an injury, he did look good for Miami during the month of March. During that span, which was before the late-season injury, Wiggins averaged 21 points and four rebounds on 52 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from 3-point range.
But even if the Heat did grow to a point where they'd be open to trading Wiggins, there's a strong argument to be made that his trade value will be higher as we get closer to the NBA Trade Deadline.
Wiggins' trade value could be higher at the NBA Trade Deadline
Theoretically, the Heat could begin the season with Wiggins on the roster, and if they begin to realize they don't have enough surrounding talent to compete in the Eastern Conference legitimately, or suffer a key injury that is going to immediately tank the season, they could always revisit the idea of a trade closer to the deadline.
And for what he can still do at this point in his career as a two-way wing, especially under the expectation he's going to rebound after a rough end to the year, Wiggins could have plenty of value at the deadline.
Whether he's on the roster or not, there's an expectation that Wiggins is going to play a key role for the Heat this season. At least for now, the Heat is hoping - and expecting - Wiggins has a positive impact on the court this season.