The Phoenix Suns seem to be inching closer to trading away Kevin Durant after a couple of disappointing seasons with him. When they acquired him during the 2022-23 season, they hoped to become championship contenders, but they only got to the second round of the playoffs that year, and after getting swept in the first round of last year’s playoffs, they didn’t even reach the play-in tournament this season.
The Miami Heat are reportedly on Durant’s short list of teams he would like to be traded to. The Heat have a two-way wing named Andrew Wiggins, who some think could be a target for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he could be sent out if they end up going for Durant.
Arhaan Raje of Sportskeeda proposed a trade idea where the Lakers get involved in a Durant deal as a third team. In this mock trade, they would give up forward Rui Hachimura, big man Maxi Kleber and their No. 55 pick in this year’s NBA draft to get Wiggins.
Via Sportskeeda:
“The LA Lakers need a center, and that’s no secret, but they also need to replenish their wing depth with a two-way presence,” Raje wrote.
“… Before his move to the Heat at the 2025 trade deadline for Jimmy Butler, Wiggins was the [Golden State] Warriors’ best two-way player. He was a key component of their championship run three years ago, emerging as their second-best player behind Steph [Stephen] Curry.
“Currently, on a $28.2 million contract, Wiggins is an attainable target for the Lakers. He fits as a piece next to Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin reaves as a point-of-attack defender who can guard one through three.”
A point-of-attack defender is something the Lakers could really use after Anthony Edwards torched them at times in their first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wiggins could perhaps take on the other team’s best or most important backcourt player, while Dorian Finney-Smith (if he stays with L.A.) could guard the opposition’s best forward.
Wiggins would also give Los Angeles a boost offensively. This season, he averaged 18.0 points a game and hit 37.4% of his 5.8 3-point attempts a game, and he was an All-Star starter just three years ago. He could allow the team to space the floor and play some true 5-out sets in its halfcourt offense, which would open up the paint for James, Doncic and Reaves.
The best thing about this trade idea is the fact that it would leave the Lakers with one future first-round draft pick to use in another trade, presumably for a starting-level center. They would also still have the expiring contract of Gabe Vincent to dangle in such a deal.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Three-team Kevin Durant trade idea gives Lakers former All-Star wing
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
