This February, the Heat pulled off a massive five-team trade, sending Jimmy Butler to the Warriors and landing Wiggins, Anderson, Tucker, Mitchell, and a 2025 first-round pick. Wiggins has shown two sides in his career—the Timberwolves version and the Warriors version—both full of skills Miami can use. This season, the Heat are counting on those traits, and Wiggins is ready to deliver exactly what the team needs

Andrew Wiggins is gearing up for what could be a defining season with the Miami Heat, and he’s already making waves off the court. Over the weekend, Wiggins shared a string of Instagram photos rocking his Heat jersey while getting in a sweat session with Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware. It wasn’t just a casual practice—it felt like a subtle but clear message to Pat Riley, the Heat president, signalling that Wiggins is ready to be a key piece for Miami.

Wiggins put up solid numbers during the regular season for Miami, averaging 19 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and a block per game across 17 outings. But the playoffs were tougher—his stats dipped during the Heat’s first-round sweep by Cleveland, falling to 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Still, Miami sees plenty of value in his all-around game and expects him to stay a key piece in their rotation moving forward.

Wiggins, an All-Star who played a big role in Golden State’s 2022 title run, spent six seasons with the Warriors and left a lasting mark on the team. Even though some weren’t thrilled about his trade, Miami’s decision to bring him in while letting Butler go fits their plan to make the most of Steph Curry’s prime years.

After the deal, Wiggins opened up about his mindset, “Once I got the news, it’s time for a new chapter. It’s hard, but that’s the NBA… It’s a business. I’m here. I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited. I feel like we can do something special here.” His excitement quickly turned into action when he notched his first NBA win while playing for Miami—a personal milestone, since he was born and raised in the area, and had lost his first six career games there.

On the court in Miami, Wiggins seems to have found his rhythm, especially alongside Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. “They’ve been a great duo,” he said, referring to his teammates. “You saw it in overtime. They started us off in overtime, getting us a nice little lead and getting in a nice rhythm. So playing with these guys, I feel like it’s going to be easy. They’re unselfish. They just want to win and so do I.”

His recent Instagram posts, showing him in Heat gear and practicing with the squad, weren’t just for fans—they were a subtle message to Pat Riley that Wiggins is ready to embrace Miami and make an impact in the upcoming season.

LeBron’s Miami history looms over Wiggins trade talks

It’s been over a decade since LeBron James left the Miami Heat, walking away from a team that reached four NBA Finals and won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 under Pat Riley’s leadership. Back then, Riley was reportedly blindsided and frustrated, expecting LeBron to stick around for a third championship.

That tension hasn’t fully disappeared, and insiders say Riley still carries a little “Team Petty” when it comes to moves involving James. Now, that old history is adding a layer of intrigue to the Lakers’ interest in Andrew Wiggins. Miami has made it clear they’re not planning to trade Wiggins before training camp, especially with Tyler Herro sidelined, and they want to see how Wiggins’ scoring and defense fit into their lineup before making any decisions.

The Lakers are exploring options, reportedly offering players like Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and future draft picks to land Wiggins. But Miami isn’t budging.

According to ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel, “At this time, Miami holds no desire to trade Wiggins before the 2025-26 season, and they are operating under the mindset of evaluating his production and fit before the trade deadline.” Siegel notes that Miami’s asking price for Wiggins is steep, and the Lakers haven’t matched it, making a trade seem unlikely for now.

For now, it looks like Wiggins will remain in Miami. An NBA executive told Lakers Daily, “I would be stunned if Pat [Riley] did this trade. Do you really think Pat wants to help LeBron? He’s still mad about LeBron leaving Miami. I don’t see that happening.”

Plus the 2020 Finals between the Heat and the Lakers doesn’t help Pat Riley to get over his reported mindset for helping the Lakers or LeBron.

With two years left on his contract and a player option for 2026-27, Wiggins is a critical piece for the Heat until they decide if a trade makes sense. Between lingering history with LeBron and Miami’s on-court needs, the Lakers’ hopes for a Wiggins deal are on pause, leaving fans watching closely as this story unfolds.