The Miami Heat have signed 4-time NBA champion Klay Thompson to a 2-year, $13M contract. Thompson, 36, was due to make $17.5 million in the final season of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks, who announced his buyout on Friday.
What happened?
The Dallas Mavericks and Thompson had been working toward finding a way to go their separate ways. Finally, on Friday, the two sides agreed to a buyout.
The Heat will likely use most of their remaining non-tax MLE to sign Klay Thompson to a two-year, ~$13M deal. Instead of receiving the bi-annual exception worth up to $5.4M, Thompson will earn closer to $6.5M average annual value with a player option in year two, according to NBA writer Jake Weinbach.
Why it matters for Miami Heat
Adding Thompson dramatically improves the Heat, as they finally have another elite shooter who can consistently space the floor. The four-time NBA champion has been the missing piece Miami has been searching for throughout the summer.
After acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade, Thompson emerged as one of Miami’s top targets, and the Heat finally got their man. A two-year deal worth approximately $13 million is a strong value for a player of Thompson’s caliber, and Miami can now turn its attention toward preparing for the regular season.
The Heat are coming off a strong performance, with their last result being a 143-117 win over the Atlanta Hawks on 2026-04-12. They have also been on a 4-game winning run, with a recent form of 4W-0D-1L.
What comes next?
Thompson played two seasons for the Mavericks, averaging 12.9 points per game and shooting 38.7% from 3-point range. He passed Damian Lillard last season to rank fourth in career 3-pointers made.
The Heat's roster is now looking stronger, with Thompson joining the team. They will be looking to make a deep run in the playoffs, and Thompson's experience will be invaluable.
The signing of Thompson is a significant move for the Heat, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in with the team. With their recent form and the addition of Thompson, the Heat are looking like a strong contender in the NBA.
