Luka Doncic will undoubtedly give trade tick of approval for ex-Warriors star

While the Golden State Warriors are still wading through Jonathan Kuminga's free agency and the subsequent expected signings beyond that, the Los Angeles Lakers could be kicking the tyres on a trade for one of their former stars.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein on Monday, the Lakers are likely to have interest in Andrew Wiggins as they continue the search to add a productive two-way wing next to Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Luka Doncic will give trade tick of approval for Andrew Wiggins

After signing a three-year, $165 million extension with the franchise earlier this offseason, Doncic will undoubtedly have a significant say in any move the Lakers make going forward whether via trade or free agency.

It's difficult to envision Doncic not giving the tick of approval when it comes to a potential Wiggins trade, having gone up against the Canadian on multiple occasions when they were back with the Warriors and Dallas Mavericks respectively.

Those battles were highlighted by the 2022 Western Conference Finals where Wiggins was tasked with guarding Doncic throughout the majority of a five-game series that Golden State won on their way to the championship.

Doncic posted 32.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in that series, but Wiggins still drew some credit for limiting the Slovenian superstar to 41.5% shooting from the floor, 34% from 3-point range, and nearly four turnovers per game.

Wiggins himself became a surprise rebounding presence at 7.2 per game, while also averaging 18.6 points on 46.2% shooting. The former No. 1 overall pick also delivered perhaps the highlight of the series, posterizing Doncic with a massive slam in the fourth-quarter of Game 3.

The Lakers star will no doubt have memories of that series even if they're painful ones, something he may now look back upon if the franchise is a legitimate threat to acquire Wiggins from the Miami Heat following his arrival in the Jimmy Butler trade.

While Wiggins has been unable to truly recapture the form of those 2022 playoffs, he remains a highly valuable 3-and-D forward who could prove an excellent fit next to Doncic and James.

The 2022 All-Star averaged 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his 17 regular season games with the Heat, before struggling in the playoffs where his team were ruthlessly swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Warriors and Lakers are expected to sit in a similar tier together just under the top group of contenders in the West, but that could still change dramatically before the two teams meet in a massive regular season opener on October 21.