Resigning Nicolas Batum and James Harden, after their player options were declined, and adding Brook Lopez, is certainly not how the LA Clippers will end their offseason. The front office, particularly executive Lawrence Frank, has plenty of work to do if he aims to outcompete the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets next season.
This will require the help of another All-Star who has the appropriate status, skill set, and resume. Jrue Holiday was that guy, but in the end, the Boston Celtics' dreams of moving his contract were answered by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Moreover, a player being paid millions less than Holiday is Andrew Wiggins from the Miami Heat. He was acquired at the deadline for Jimmy Butler and may be moved again as the Heat's focus is on stacking around Tyler Herro and Kel'el Ware.
Wiggins would thrive as the Clippers' starting power forward, yet the Los Angeles Lakers will also show interest in the Heat. They need a two-way wing, given the loss of Dorian Finney-Smith, and the former NBA champion from the Bay Area is their ideal target.
Thus, the Lakers' front office could take away someone off the Clippers' radar, similar to what Frank did when he lured Brook Lopez away from Crypto.com Arena.
The Los Angeles Lakers could work a trade out with the Miami Heat for Andrew Wiggins, a player the LA Clippers could also use
As he was once an All-Star starter and has a ring won with the Golden State Warriors, Andrew Wiggins is 29 and still immensely talented. This season, Wiggins posted 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for the Warriors and Miami Heat, shooting 44.8% from the floor and 37.4% from three-point range.
Additionally, Wiggins is set to make $28 million next season and $30 million in the year of his player option, which would force the LA Clippers to trade Norman Powell and Kobe Brown to the Miami Heat.
However, the Los Angeles Lakers could easily one-up the Clippers on the same opportunity in building a package for Wiggins, with an offer of Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and draft capital.
The Heat will be inclined to accept the higher offer, showing how the Lakers could return to the Clippers, what was done to them regarding Brook Lopez earlier this week, on the premier talent and athleticism of the former Rookie of the Year.