Klay Thompson chooses Miami after buyout
Klay Thompson reached a buyout agreement with the Dallas Mavericks on August 21, 2026, ending his two-season stay in Texas. The 36-year-old guard plans to join the Miami Heat after clearing waivers.
Dallas confirmed the agreement through an official team release. Thompson had not officially signed with Miami when the move was reported because the NBA waiver process still needed to finish first.
Klay Thompson leaves $17.5 million deal
Dallas bought out the final season of Thompson’s contract, which carried a $17.5 million salary for 2026-27. The veteran wanted a move to a contender, and management approved his request to depart.
His expiring salary and league cap rules made a trade difficult to complete. Dallas also carried 16 standard contracts, one above the regular-season limit of 15 available roster spots for competition.
Klay Thompson gets reported Heat terms
Miami signed Thompson to a two-year contract worth about $11.5 million, finalized after he cleared waivers. The deal includes a player option for the second season, covering the 2027-28 campaign, giving Thompson a path back to free agency if it doesn’t work out in Miami.
The deal is shorter than the three-year, $50 million contract Thompson signed when joining Dallas in 2024, and its average annual value sits well below the $17.5 million salary he was owed for 2026-27 before the buyout. Thompson gave back close to $9.8 million of that salary as part of the agreement with Dallas.
Klay Thompson ends two years in Dallas
Thompson played 141 regular-season games across two years with Dallas and averaged 12.9 points. His Mavericks marks were 40.3% from the field, 38.7% from three, and 85.1% at the free-throw line.
His Dallas stint began in July 2024 as part of the NBA’s first six-team transaction, which moved him from Golden State. The Mavericks acquired Thompson after his 13-year tenure with the Warriors ended.
Klay Thompson saw his role shrink
Thompson averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 69 games during the 2025-26 season. He started only eight contests as Dallas used him mainly in a regular reserve role.
He averaged 21.7 minutes per appearance and made 2.9 three-pointers per game. Those figures marked career lows in scoring, rebounding, assists, and playing time during his second season with Dallas.
Klay Thompson still made 38.3% from three
Thompson made 38.3% of his three-point attempts during 2025-26. His 39.3% figure reflected his overall field-goal rate, not his accuracy from beyond the arc during that specific Dallas regular season.
The distinction corrects a key number from earlier reporting about his season. Thompson still converted more than 38% from deep despite finishing the campaign with his lowest career scoring average ever.
Klay Thompson ranks fourth in NBA threes
Thompson ranks fourth in NBA history with 2,899 made three-pointers. His career three-point percentage stands at 40.9%, placing him among the league’s most productive and accurate long-range scorers across his era.
Only three players had made more career three-pointers when Dallas completed the buyout. Thompson also owns five playoff games with at least eight made threes, the most in NBA history to date.
Klay Thompson targets Miami after 43 wins
Miami finished the 2025-26 regular season at 43-39 and missed the playoffs after losing in the play-in tournament. The Heat ranked 11th in three-point percentage at 36.1% across 82 total games.
Miami averaged 120.9 points per game and recorded a 116.7 offensive rating during the regular season. The Heat entered the offseason seeking more perimeter scoring before Thompson became their expected addition.
Klay Thompson plans to follow Giannis
Miami officially acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee on July 6. The Heat sent Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, and a large package of draft assets.
Milwaukee received three first-round picks, a 2030 pick swap, and a 2033 second-round selection. Antetokounmpo arrived as a two-time NBA MVP, 10-time All-Star, NBA champion, and 2021 Finals MVP.
Klay Thompson would enter a changed roster
Miami’s backcourt and wing group changed heavily before Thompson’s expected arrival. Tyler Herro and Norman Powell departed, while Tim Hardaway Jr. joined the Heat on a one-year contract during the summer offseason.
Andrew Wiggins opted into 2026-27 and signed a two-year extension, keeping him under contract through 2028-29. Those moves reshaped Miami’s perimeter group before management targeted Thompson for another experienced veteran role.
Fun fact: Klay Thompson once scored 37 points in a single quarter while making every field-goal attempt, including nine threes.
Klay Thompson fits Miami’s new frontcourt
Miami targeted Thompson to add perimeter scoring around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Both established frontcourt players remained central to the Heat roster after the organization completed major offseason personnel changes.
The Heat averaged 13.7 made three-pointers per game during 2025-26. Thompson’s expected addition would give Miami another experienced perimeter option once he clears waivers and becomes eligible to sign officially there.
Klay Thompson owns four NBA titles
Thompson won four NBA championships with Golden State in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. His career also includes five All-Star selections and two All-NBA honors across 13 seasons played professionally there.
The Golden State reached six NBA Finals during Thompson’s tenure between 2015 and 2022. He has appeared in 158 career playoff games, giving him extensive postseason experience if his expected move to Miami becomes official.
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Klay Thompson move still awaits waivers
Thompson left Dallas and officially signed with Miami after clearing waivers, putting an end to any uncertainty about his next stop. He met with Heat media for his introductory press conference on Aug. 25, saying he still plays with a chip on his shoulder despite his four championships.
His finalized Miami contract is worth about $11.5 million over two years, with a player option in the second season. Thompson said Dallas was supportive of his decision to pursue a buyout once it became clear he wanted a shot at another deep playoff run.
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Klay Thompson may soon add Miami to a career already filled with championships and historic three-point performances. Would the Heat be the right fit for him? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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