The Los Angeles Lakers are rumoured to be interested in trading for Andrew Wiggins, a Miami Heat player with a championship ring. But is it the right call?

Currently, the Lakers are near the top of the Western Conference with a 12-4 record. They finally have their star players—LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves—playing together.

Even so, some people wonder if the team as it is can win four playoff rounds in a row. A major worry is their big man situation, especially after DeAndre Ayton's recent knee injury. Still, trade rumours are swirling, even for other positions.

Recently, Jake Fischer reported that the Lakers are thinking about trading for Wiggins, who used to play for the Miami Heat and won a title with the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers have been interested in Wiggins before, but lately, some have advised against it.

Erik Beaston wrote, Adding Wiggins to a lineup with Dončić, Reaves, James, and DeAndre Ayton sounds good, but the team shouldn't do it.

Even though the Lakers are a few games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lead the conference, the writer strongly advised Los Angeles to hold off, especially since James just got back on the court.

There are worries about the Lakers trading for Wiggins.

While Wiggins could give the Lakers another scorer and a decent defender, Beaston made a strong case against the trade.

He pointed out that with stars like James, Doncic, and Reaves already on the team, Wiggins would probably have a similar role but might not be as good as those three. Plus, bringing in a new player could mess up the team's strong chemistry that has built up since the offseason.

Beaston wrote, Team chemistry is too valuable for the Lakers to make big changes this season. James' return already affected the chemistry between Dončić and Reaves, who had become a strong offensive duo.

Besides, a trade for Wiggins would likely mean trading away some expiring contracts. The Lakers made many moves over the summer, and changing those plans to add someone who isn't even an All-Star could be a mistake.

The writer added, The last thing they need is to trade away expiring contracts (Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Jaxson Hayes) for Wiggins and risk messing up chemistry or momentum. It's better to stick with what they have and maybe trade one of those contracts to get a role player or two by the deadline, especially since the team will want more depth later in the season.

Maybe the Lakers are fine without Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins is averaging 16.7 points and 4.9 rebounds with 48.1% shooting, but trading for him could undo everything Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick have done to build this team.

Reaves is in line for his first All-Star appearance and a big new contract.

As mentioned, adding Wiggins might not be an upgrade over Reaves, who has been playing great this season. After averaging 20 points per game last year, the 26-year-old is now averaging a career-high 27.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists with 48.4% shooting.

Reaves is not only on track for his first All-Star appearance but is also likely to sign a new max contract this offseason.

Greg Swartz wrote, Austin Reaves has improved a lot in his NBA career, and now he looks like a max contract player. Reaves has a $14.9 million player option for next season, but he's unlikely to pick it up. Instead, he can opt out and sign a five-year, $241 million contract with the Lakers or a four-year, $178.5 million deal with another team.

Bobby Marks of ESPN first reported that the Lakers could offer Reaves a huge, $241 million contract extension next summer. Even if his numbers drop a bit with James back, another team will probably offer him a maximum contract if the Lakers don't, given how well he's played.

Reaves is currently among the top players in scoring and assists and is shooting better than ever. Wiggins probably couldn't match those numbers, which is another reason why adding a player who would take the ball away from Reaves, James, or Doncic might not be a good idea.

Chauncey Billups, Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer, entered a not guilty plea in a Brooklyn federal court on Monday. The case accuses him of working with the mafia to fix illegal poker games.

The arraignment happened during a hearing for all 31 people accused in the case. Prosecutors say they used their status as pro athletes to draw people into card games, then cheated them using fancy tech.

Billups' lawyer, Marc Mukasey, entered the plea for his client before Judge Ramon Reye.

Billups, 49, is charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. His lawyers say he didn't do anything wrong.

Damon Jones, a former Cleveland Cavaliers guard, is also charged, along with people said to be part of New York’s La Cosa Nostra crime families. All have pleaded not guilty.

The case connects to a criminal investigation into alleged bet-fixing by pro athletes, which comes as legal sports betting has really taken off in the U.S.

The charges against Billups came out in October, along with a case accusing Jones and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier of using inside info to fix bets on NBA games between 2022 and 2024. Jones and Rozier have also pleaded not guilty.

In the poker case, prosecutors say Billups and other athletes got people to play against cheaters. These cheaters used special X-ray tables and rigged shuffling machines to see the cards in others' hands.

Prosecutors claim the scheme started in 2019 and cheated people out of at least $7 million. They say the group used violence and threats to collect on debts.

Billups is in his fifth year as Portland's head coach but is currently suspended. He played for seven teams during his NBA career and won a title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

Earlier this month, Brooklyn federal prosecutors charged Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz with fraud and money laundering for allegedly fixing bets on their pitches during MLB games.

They have pleaded not guilty, with their lawyers saying they did nothing wrong.