Klay Thompson’s Next Chapter: Joining the Miami Heat

Klay Thompson, a player many regard as a future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, is on the verge of starting a new chapter of his career with the Miami Heat. It seems he’ll be donning the Heat’s colors for the 2026-27 NBA season.

This five-time NBA All-Star is reportedly set to sign a contract with Miami after clearing waivers, following a buyout agreement with the Dallas Mavericks. Sources indicate that Thompson could sign a two-year deal worth nearly $13 million, as shared by ESPN.

The 36-year-old had been expecting to earn $17.5 million in the final year of his contract with the Mavericks, but both parties decided to part ways amicably. The team officially confirmed this move recently.

After spending 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Thompson transitioned to the Mavericks post the 2023-24 season through a sign-and-trade deal. He played two seasons in Dallas, averaging around 12.9 points across 141 regular-season games.

Thompson has long been recognized as one of the elite 3-point shooters in the NBA.

His anticipated move to South Florida would provide the Heat with another reliable scoring option as they further develop their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Antetokounmpo, an MVP twice over in 2019 and 2020, joined the Heat through a major trade that took place in June.

Masai Ujiri, president of basketball operations for the Mavericks, commended Thompson’s contributions to the team during his time there. He stated, “Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization.” His sentiments reflect a mutual respect between the player and the franchise.

He continued, “We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Interestingly, Thompson faced challenges earlier in his career, having missed two consecutive seasons due to an Achilles injury.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks faced tough times during the 2025-26 season, ending with a disappointing 26-56 record. After five seasons, they parted ways with coach Jason Kidd, describing it as a mutual decision. They later brought in Dusty May, who led Michigan to an NCAA Division I championship earlier in the year.