Updated

Updated · South Florida Sun Sentinel · Aug 21

Klay Thompson Secures Mavericks Buyout, Nears 2-Year Heat Deal Worth Nearly $13 Million

Updated

Updated · South Florida Sun Sentinel · Aug 21

Klay Thompson Secures Mavericks Buyout, Nears 2-Year Heat Deal Worth Nearly $13 Million

Q: Will Klay Thompson sacrifice millions in a buyout to join Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat for a title run?

Possibly, but only if Dallas cannot trade him and a buyout lets Miami replace most of what he gives up. The reporting points to Miami as one of Klay Thompson’s strongest potential destinations, and multiple insiders say he is open to the Heat because they offer what he wants most at this stage: a real chance to compete deep in the playoffs alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Miami also has a clear basketball need for his shooting, and the Heat have reportedly kept part of their midlevel exception available for him. Financially, a buyout only makes sense if Thompson does not truly lose much. He is owed about $17.5 million by Dallas, and reports say Miami could offer roughly $7 million to $8 million if he becomes a free agent. In that scenario, Thompson could give back a similar amount in a buyout and recover much of it from the Heat, meaning the sacrifice would likely be limited rather than a massive forfeiture. The bigger obstacle is Dallas, not Thompson. The Mavericks still prefer a trade, have little tax-driven reason to do a buyout, and there have been reports that no formal buyout talks have happened yet. Dallas does need to trim its roster, but it has other ways to do that. So the most realistic answer is that Thompson may be willing to give up some money for Miami, but not likely “millions” in a dramatic sense unless most of it is offset by a new Heat contract. His title priorities make the move logical, but Dallas still controls whether it can happen.

3 articles · Updated · South Florida Sun Sentinel · Aug 21

Friday’s buyout clears Thompson to join Miami after a 48-hour waiver period ending Sunday, with no team expected to claim his full $17.4 million 2026-27 salary.
The Heat are expected to sign him for most of their remaining mid-level exception on a two-year deal starting above $6 million, their first major move since acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Miami targeted Thompson for his floor spacing — he has 2,899 career 3-pointers and 11 seasons with 200-plus made threes — to open offense for Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Dallas moved on after shifting into a rebuild following the Luka Doncic trade, with Thompson, 37, averaging 12.9 points across 141 games in two Mavericks seasons.