The Luka Doncic contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers may have just gifted the Miami Heat a lifeline they desperately needed. With Luka's future with the Lakers decided, they could emerge as an even more serious landing spot for Andrew Wiggins.
According to Los Angeles Lakers writer Dan Woike, the Lakers view Wiggins as a more "desirable" trade target after the Luka extension. In his words, Los Angeles is now more inclined to be aggressive in pursuing a two-way wing like Wiggins, which may also include taking on additional salary, now that their future with Luka is decided.
This should be music to the ears of the Heat. As a team that should be open to trading Wiggins, in what could end up being the final year of his contract, Miami could find itself in a great position to make a significant move at the trade deadline, if not before.
The Heat need to trade Andrew Wiggins
If it is indeed the Heat's master plan to acquire a superstar player in the next few seasons, acquiring more assets needs to be at the top of their list of priorities over the next few months. Trading some of their more veteran players, who the team knows aren't a big part of the team's future, is absolutely essential.
Wiggins should be near the top of that list, especially if a team like the Lakers is ready to pay a premium price for him on the trade block.
I wouldn't suggest that the Heat push to trade Wiggins right now, but this is certainly a situation worth monitoring the closer we get to the start of the NBA season and then the trade deadline. And if the Lakers are serious about making a truly competitive offer to the Heat, this becomes much more of a realistic scenario.
What should the Heat ask in exchange for Andrew Wiggins?
The big question is what exactly the Heat would be asking for in exchange for Wiggins? It's complicated, but at least for now, the Heat should keep their high asking price. Recent reporting seems to indicate that Miami is asking for Rui Hachimura and a future first-round pick. At least for now, the Lakers haven't been willing to meet that asking price.
Miami shouldn't shift that now, especially if it's true that the Lakers may be preparing to get more aggressive in their pursuit of Wiggins.
The Luka contract news may have given the Heat the exact Wiggins exit plan that they've been waiting for, and it will be interesting to see how this scenario all plays out.