Overlooked Andrew Wiggins advantage makes Lakers trade easy to justify

The selling point of adding Andrew Wiggins to the Los Angeles Lakers is undoubtedly his defensive presence elevating a potentially lackluster unit on that end. However, too many are glossing over the offensive upside that can be offered by the Miami Heat forward in the role he would have.

Wiggins is certainly no slouch on that end of the court. The versatile forward has averaged 18.5 points per game, shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from beyond the arc during his career. That man is not an afterthought. Maple Jordan is a weapon.

What kind of coverages would Wiggins be receiving on a nightly basis? With the current construction of the Lakers roster, it would typically be the worst defenders that opposing teams have to offer. That makes him exactly the type of two-way upgrade Rob Pelinka should be on the prowl for.

Andrew Wiggins' offensive game would come easier than ever with the Lakers

Luka Doncic will be the man every coach stays up late into the middle of the night preparing for. Doncic's basketball brilliance should make life on offense very easy for the Lakers in the upcoming season, and an absolute nightmare for opponents to scheme against.

If defenses think the problem of guarding the Lakers main superstar can be solved and accounted for, LeBron James then enters the picture with another predicament for them. Even while approaching 41 years old, James is still as tough of a cover as they come.

If somehow the gargantuan task of guarding those two is accomplished with relative success, Austin Reaves is there to offer more headaches. Reaves is already a player who can punish defenses. Continuing to develop his catch-and-shoot game would only make him more difficult to hold down.

After those three are addressed, coaches can finally start to worry about Wiggins. However, at that point, it may already be too late.

Depending on how one views the projected pecking order between Wiggins and Deandre Ayton, the two-way forward would either be the fourth or fifth option on most nights. How many teams are going to have enough elite defenders to slow all of them down? The answer: very few, if any.

Dorian Finney-Smith got to operate in that type of role for the Lakers last season, and described the shot quality he received in a very colorful way. That would be the life Wiggins could expect playing as a part of the Lakers offense.

Ever since expanding his offensive arsenal to include a more reliable 3-point shot, Wiggins has really filled out his game on that end. The Heat forward has averaged 38.1 percent from distance on 5.1 attempts per game since 2020-21.

Wiggins also continues to have the athletic tools to punish weak closeouts and attack the defense on the interior. Both of those things should make his life easy when Doncic finds him open on the perimeter.

The unfortunate news is this potential trade will probably have to wait. Brett Siegel reported the Heat want to 'see how things play out' before shaking up the roster. If the two sides can finally come together on a deal, there should be no doubt that Wiggins will greatly elevate the Lakers on both ends.