LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers this month totally reshaped the Miami Heat’s free-agency board, immediately shifting their focus. With King James off the table, the Heat front office turned its full attention to one man: Klay Thompson. They are dead set on pairing an elite outside shooting guard with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and for them, that search starts and ends with Klay.
Miami’s Laser Focus and the Ignored Options
Miami isn’t even bothering with other guards on the market right now. We’re talking about players like DeMar DeRozan and Bradley Beal, who are out there for the taking. But nope, the Heat are keeping their distance. Why? Because they simply refuse to blow their remaining $8 million exception on some temporary fix while they wait for Thompson to figure things out. DeRozan, for example, dropped 18.4 points on 49.7% shooting for the Sacramento Kings last season, and he’s got tons of other teams chasing him. He has zero reason to just sit around and wait for Miami to make up its mind. This Heat roster, built around the inside dominance of Antetokounmpo and Adebayo, desperately needs Klay’s kind of elite gravity on the perimeter. That kind of shooting is the missing piece, according to Golden State insider Anthony Slater, who told NBA Today that Miami “really need depth and they really need shooting.” They want Klay, and they’re willing to bet big on that desire.
The Dallas Dilemma and Klay’s Price Tag
Here’s the problem: Klay Thompson is currently tied up in Dallas. He’s entering the final year of that three-year, $50 million deal he signed back in 2024, and he’s due to make a cool $17.5 million for the upcoming season. The Mavericks are safely below the luxury tax line, so from a purely financial standpoint, they’ve got no reason to buy him out unless Klay agrees to leave a big chunk of that money on the table. And get this: NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Dallas is strictly preferring a trade over a buyout anyway. The kicker? There isn’t even a realistic trade package between Miami and Dallas right now! Thompson’s talent is undeniable; he shot 38.3% from beyond the arc on 7.6 three-point attempts per game across 69 appearances last season. Plus, his 2,899 career threes put him fourth all-time, right behind legends like Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Ray Allen. That kind of historical shooting is exactly what Miami craves. But that hefty $17.5 million price tag is exactly why Miami’s $8 million exception is such a huge deal. If the California native is willing to take a pay cut to get out of Dallas, that exception is Miami’s golden ticket to cover most of the gap between his old salary and his actual market value.
For now, Thompson is still in Dallas, and Miami is stuck playing the waiting game. They’re staying patient, even if it means watching other valuable options slip through their fingers. This whole situation is wild, and it shows just how much the Heat want Klay. Will he eventually get to Miami, or will Dallas hold firm? That’s the question on everyone’s mind heading into the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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