Lakers Report: Pelinka Uses Hachimura's Extension to Pressure Heat, Urging Riley to Expedite Wiggins Trade

On September 28th Beijing time, Lakers reporter Jovan Buha talked on a podcast about the Lakers and Heat’s trade talks involving Wiggins. He suggested that Pelinka’s comments about extending Hachimura were, in fact, a strategy to pressure the Heat and urge Riley to speed up the Wiggins deal.

For the last two and a half years, Hachimura has maintained a steady role in the Lakers’ rotation thanks to his reliable play. With his current contract nearing expiration and possessing a highly valuable offensive skill set, he has become a sought-after trade candidate in the league. Reports indicate the Lakers have already put Hachimura on the table as a potential asset in their trade discussions with the Heat over Wiggins.

The Heat have also shown interest in Hachimura, but negotiations stalled because the Heat demanded draft picks as additional compensation from the Lakers. Since the Lakers remain committed to acquiring Wiggins, Buha notes that the Lakers might be using the extension talks with Hachimura as leverage to compel the Heat into swift action.

“From a strategic negotiation standpoint, if you were Lakers management and publicly stated ‘we are considering extending Hachimura’ — and theoretically, at least from a salary matching perspective, Hachimura is a key piece in the Wiggins trade — this declaration would increase pressure on the Heat.”

“It’s like the Lakers are saying, ‘Listen, if you want Hachimura, if you want to shed that extra year on Wiggins’ contract, and perhaps you regard them as equivalent players or even believe Hachimura is superior, then move quickly to acquire him through a trade. Otherwise, we’ll finalize his extension next month, and you won’t be able to trade for him anymore.’”

If the Lakers complete Hachimura’s extension now, he cannot be included in any trade for at least the next six months — a “no-trade period” that would even extend beyond the NBA trade deadline on February 6, 2026. Should this scenario unfold, the Heat would be forced to carry Wiggins’ contract for an additional year.

American media view the Lakers’ offseason moves as underrated: by signing Ayton, Smart, and LaRavia through free agency, they have filled multiple roster gaps without sacrificing core trade assets.

However, roster depth remains a concern: due to Smart’s significant injury history, the Lakers still need to add a perimeter defensive specialist as insurance. If they successfully trade for Wiggins, he would be an ideal fit — capable of guarding multiple positions while also providing solid offensive contributions.

Moreover, Wiggins’ athleticism makes him highly compatible with Doncic. If he joins, he would immediately become the team’s fifth starter; the Lakers could also flexibly deploy Wiggins and Smart together depending on the opponent’s lineup.

Currently, the Lakers’ other potential targets include Kamara and Sable, but these trades seem less likely at the moment.