Klay Thompson expected to sign with Miami Heat after Mavericks buyout
The 36-year-old guard is set to join the Heat to bolster perimeter shooting following a contract buyout from Dallas.
Klay Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat after clearing waivers following a contract buyout from the Dallas Mavericks, according to sources cited by ESPN. The 36-year-old guard was due to earn $17.5 million in the final season of his deal with Dallas, who announced the buyout on Friday afternoon.
Thompson initiated the buyout by informing the Mavericks that he wished to play for a contender. This decision comes after the Mavericks finished the previous season with a 26-56 record. During his two seasons in Dallas, Thompson averaged 12.9 points per game and shot 38.7 per cent from three-point range.
The Heat identified Thompson as their primary target to add perimeter shooting after recently acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade. The move is seen as a key step in the organisation’s attempt to construct a contender around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri issued a statement thanking Thompson for his contributions. “Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organisation,” Ujiri said. “We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Thompson spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Golden State Warriors, where he was a five-time All-Star and four-time champion. His tenure in Golden State was interrupted by Achilles and knee injuries that caused him to miss consecutive seasons before he arrived in Dallas in a sign-and-trade deal in the summer of 2024.
The move also highlights Thompson’s standing in the league’s historical records. He passed Damian Lillard last season to rank fourth in career three-pointers made, with 2,899. Thompson would need to make 75 more three-pointers to pass Hall of Famer Ray Allen for third place, though he faces a significant climb behind James Harden and Stephen Curry for the top two spots.
