As trade rumors begin to spice up in the league, with Andrew Wiggins being in the mix, the Miami Heat appear to be closed for business.
The Miami Heat have finally found their way back in the win column, snapping a three-game losing streak last night against the Atlanta Hawks, with a final score of 126-111. Second-year guard Pelle Larsson recorded a new career-high in points with 21, including three three-pointers made, six rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 30 minutes of action. After missing time due to a left ankle sprain, the 24-year-old wasted no time leaving an impact.
"He was able to handle those minutes," Erik Spoelstra said about Larsson. "You just see the glue intangibles that he provides. This time, it's a little bit easier because you see the stats, but regardless of the stats, he just does so many does so many of the intangibles on both sides of the court. He cuts, moves for you offensively, it helps all your better players. We were missing a ton of that. It just seems so easy, but it's something we've been working on, everybody being that kind of role player when somebody else has the ball. He just does it naturally, and then defensively, he just does so many tough things."
Alongside Larsson's great game, Andrew Wiggins was outstanding in his own right. The veteran forward finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block in 32 minutes. He also recorded the highest positive plus-minus on the team, with 21.
It hasn't just been an up-and-down season for the Heat, but the 30-year-old as well. Wiggins has been mentioned in trade rumors since the summer, specifically linked to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, a recent report indicates that the organization has little interest in "actively shopping" the former All-Star.
Wiggins is averaging 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 blocks, and a steal while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from three-point range on the season. He's on an expiring $28.22 million contract, with a $30.17 player option for next year.
The Heat would surely get something valuable in return in a potential trade, especially with the deadline being less than a couple of months away. It's worth noting that they haven't "been moved" by any offers from the Lakers, according to the report. Also, the team benefits from the leadership and presence of Wiggins, who played a strong role in the Golden State Warriors' championship run in 2022.
A player who can contribute on both sides of the court, without a serious ego, is the best kind to have on the roster, and a perfect fit on the Heat. However, there's always the business side of the sport, which is still important to consider.
It will be interesting to see what more transpires before the Feb. 5th trade deadline.
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