For the past few weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers’ interest in Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins has been constantly reported. That’s not much of a surprise, given that the Purple & Gold are in the hunt for a wing who could not only score but is also good on perimeter defense, and the former NBA champion ticks both boxes. However, despite genuine interest, the only thing seemingly holding back Rob Pelinka and Co. is Miami’s steep asking price.

The Heat front office is reportedly asking for a first-round pick, Dalton Knecht, and Rui Hachimura in exchange for Wiggins. On the surface, it seems like too much of an ask for a 30-year-old one-time All-Star, but the Lakers will gain a massive boost in their quest for a championship next season with a solid player on both ends of the floor like Andrew Wiggins. His defensive tenacity goes hand in hand with his multi-dimensional scoring. This led to averages of 19 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists last season with a three-point efficiency of 36%,

But, still, giving up Knecht, whom L.A. just picked up in the first round in 2024, doesn’t make much sense. So, what can the front office do?

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale came up with a record-breaking eight-team deal. We’ve already witnessed a massive seven-team deal that saw Kevin Durant join the Houston Rockets, but this will take things even further up a notch with the likes of Boston, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and others being involved. Here’s how Favale thinks the Lakers could land Wiggins, at the cost of shipping out their trusted Rui Hachimura.

Full Trade Details:

Boston Celtics receive: Terance Mann, Utah’s 2026 second-round pick, draft rights to Louis Laberyrie, and Brooklyn’s 2026 second-round pick.

Brooklyn Nets receive: Pat Connaughton, Kyle Kuzma, Denver’s 2029 second-round pick, draft rights to Marcelo Nicola, and $2.3 million in cash.

Charlotte Hornets receive: Anfernee Simona, Robert Williams III, and $1.7 million cash.

Los Angeles Lakers receive: Andrew Wiggins, Haywood Highsmith, and AJ Green.

Miami Heat receive: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jusuf Nurkic, Matisse Thybulle, 2026 second-round pick, and Lakers’ 2031 first-round pick.

Milwaukee Bucks receive: Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, and draft rights to Peter Fehse.

Portland Trail Blazers receive: Nick Smith Jr., Kyle Anderson, K.J. Martin, Houston’s 2031 second-round pick, draft rights to Dmimtrios Agravanis, and Lakers’ 2032 second-round pick.

Utah Jazz receive: Gabe Vincent, Terry Rozier, DaQuan Jeffries, 2026 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, draft rights to Christian Drejer, draft rights to Peter Fehse, $2.4 million cash from Miami, and $2.5 million cash from Boston.

This is how both Rob Pelinka and ‘the Godfather’ Pat Riley’s wishes could come true. That’s because the Miami Heat will not only receive the first-round pick they are already seeking from Los Angeles, but also get Rui Hachimura, someone the front office rates very highly. Not to mention the other upgrades they’ll be receiving, with the likes of Jusuf Nurkic and Jarred Vanderbilt joining their ranks. While this makes it clear as to why the trade would work pretty well for the Heat, what’s in it for the Lakers?

What will the Los Angeles Lakers gain from this record-breaking deal?

Well, first of all, Rob Pelinka and the rest of the front office will get the man they’ve been chasing after for weeks– Andrew Wiggins. However, it’s not to come without a cost, given that the Purple & Gold will be giving up plenty in this deal. However, they also get AJ Green and Haywood Highsmith, two further depth pieces that will give them further defensive solidarity.

The Bucks shooting guard might not seem like much on the surface, but he can also be a real scoring threat. Last season, Green managed to average 7.4 points in 73 appearances, which included only seven starts. So, given that he’s just 25, JJ Redick might have something to work on with Green.

On the other hand, Highsmith could also be a handy option at the forward position. While suiting up for Miami last season, the 28-year-old put up solid numbers, averaging 6.5 points per game along with 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists. However, he is a versatile defender who brings consistent energy and averaged 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks per game last season. Further, the Lakers will also save $5.1 million in cap space, which makes them potentially happy participants in the eight-team trade.

Nonetheless, this is just a mere speculation for now, as it will be worth watching how the Lakers approach this Wiggins deal with the new season drawing closer.