Klay Thompson, the four-time NBA champion, is officially headed to the Miami Heat after agreeing to a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. This is a massive pickup for Miami, who’ve had a tricky offseason, missing out on almost every free agent they chased. Finally, it looks like they’ve landed their guy, and the league better be watching.
The Mavericks and Thompson had been working on a separation, and the buyout was announced Friday afternoon. Thompson, who is 36, was due $17.5 million in the final year of his contract with Dallas. He spent two seasons with the Mavericks, putting up 12.9 points per game and hitting 38.7% from three-point range. Last season, he even passed Damian Lillard to snag fourth place in career three-pointers made, which just tells you what kind of shooter we’re talking about here.
Almost immediately after the buyout news broke, reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed Thompson was expected to sign with the Heat. This signing comes after Miami made a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Thompson emerging as one of their top targets afterward. Now, the details are out: Thompson is expected to sign a two-year deal worth approximately $13 million with Miami. NBA writer Jake Weinbach noted the Heat will likely use most of their non-tax MLE, with Thompson earning closer to $6.5 million average annual value and a player option in year two. That’s a strong value for a player of Thompson’s caliber.
The Heat Finally Got Their Missing Piece
Adding Thompson dramatically improves the Heat. We’re talking about another elite shooter who can consistently space the floor, something Miami has been desperate for all summer. He is the missing piece they’ve been searching for to complete their roster. After a tough stretch in the offseason, the Heat securing Thompson means they can now laser focus on preparing for the regular season. This is a huge statement from Miami, and it changes the landscape for sure.
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Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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