Andrew Wiggins is staying in Miami on a deal that matches the Heat’s vision of him as more than just another scorer.
ESPN reported Monday that the former Kansas star has agreed to a three-year, $64 million contract extension with the Heat. Wiggins also picked up his $30.2 million player option for the 2026-27 season on Monday, keeping him off the market ahead of the 5 p.m. deadline.
Under the new arrangement, he will earn that $30.2 million in 2026-27, then $34 million in the final two seasons. The deal includes a player option in the third season, 2028-29.
The 31-year-old Toronto native, now in his 12th NBA season, is coming off 1 1/2 seasons with Miami and will be part of a starting group that now includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 10-time All-Star and two-time MVP Miami recently acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Wiggins’ fit in Miami has been built around versatility. Coach Eric Spoelstra told the South Florida Sun Sentinel: “He guards one through five for us.
He guards at the top of the zone for us. He’s able to do all the switching that we do with certain lineups.
Sometimes, because he’s so effective defensively, you forget that this guy was a big-time scorer earlier in his career.”
That two-way value is a big reason Miami moved to keep him. Wiggins averaged 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season while shooting 47.5% from the field. He also finished strong, scoring in double figures in eight of Miami’s final 10 games.
His season drew praise for the efficiency he showed from the floor. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel wrote, “Wiggins arguably is coming off the best shooting season of his career. His .784 from the foul line and .414 on 3-pointers were career highs, with his .475 from the field just two percentage points off his career best,”
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley also pointed to the value Wiggins brings even if the price is steep for a supporting piece. “He’s a touch pricey for a role player, but it feels like money well spent when he’s such a rock-solid support piece,” Buckley wrote.
“He defends across multiple positions. He shines as a play-finisher both going to the basket and launching from long range.
He has a bit of bail-out ability when the offensive system is struggling to get going.”
Wiggins has logged career earnings of $250 million over a 12-year NBA career. He entered the league as the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft after a one-and-done season at Kansas, where he averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 2013-14.
His NBA path has taken him from Minnesota, where he spent 6 1/2 seasons, to Golden State for five seasons, and now deeper into his time with the Heat. Across his career, Wiggins has averaged 18.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field and 41.4% from 3. He was an All-Star in 2022 and helped Golden State win an NBA title.
At the end of last season, Wiggins made clear where he wanted to be. “I love Miami and I’m happy here.
I always believe in myself and what I can do. That’s all I need to know.”
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