Heat Acquire Klay Thompson in Sign-and-Trade After Mavericks Buyout

The Miami Heat have acquired veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson following his contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, setting the stage for the five-time NBA All-Star to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo next season. Thompson is expected to sign a two-year contract valued at approximately $13 million after clearing waivers, according to ESPN reporting Friday.

Dallas mutually agreed to part ways with the 36-year-old Thompson, who was due $17.5 million in the final year of his Mavericks deal. The transaction provides the Mavericks salary-cap relief following a disappointing 26-56 season that prompted the departure of head coach Jason Kidd after five years.

Thompson arrives in South Florida as an elite perimeter weapon for a Heat roster anchored by Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP who joined Miami in a June trade, and All-Star center Bam Adebayo. The four-time NBA champion averaged 12.9 points across 141 regular-season games during his two seasons with Dallas following a 13-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors.

Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri released a statement commending Thompson’s professionalism. “Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization,” Ujiri said, adding the franchise wished him well in his next chapter.