The Miami Heat are still trying to put together a workable plan after an offseason that has not gone the way they wanted, even with Giannis Antetokounmpo now in the fold. The bigger issue has been the rest of the market, where several of the free-agent names they chased have not come through.
That leaves Miami staring at a shorter list of possibilities, and Klay Thompson is still right there. The four-time NBA champion remains a name tied to the Heat, even as other teams stay in the mix.
“My understanding is that Thompson would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Miami Heat are another team frequently mentioned in NBA circles as a potential landing spot for the future Hall of Famer," The Athletic's Christian Clark wrote.
The hold-up is Dallas. Miami has been interested in Thompson for about a month, but his situation with the Mavericks is still the hurdle that has to be cleared before anything real can happen. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line said the Heat are pushing hard to get him.
“To this point the Mavs position has not changed. They would prefer to trade him (Klay Thompson). - All we know is, Miami is desperate for Klay Thompson but they want to sign him as a free agent. They would not be the only team interested," Fischer said.
If Thompson reaches the buyout market, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald believes the Heat could put an $8 million deal on the table.
“The Mavericks have 16 players with guaranteed contracts and are expected to discuss a buyout with Thompson, who’s due $17.5 million next season, if they remain unable to trade him. The Heat would prefer to acquire him via a buyout than a trade. Miami could pay Thompson $8 million of its midlevel exception to supplement whatever potential buyout he takes from Dallas,” Jackson wrote.
From Miami’s side, the fit is obvious. Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo can get downhill and pressure the rim, but the Heat still need a shooter who can stretch the floor.
Thompson has built his reputation on exactly that, and he remains one of the league’s most proven perimeter threats. The five-time All-Star is the kind of piece Miami has been missing.
In Other News...
Mavericks May Not Keep This Young Shooter For Long
John Poulakidas earned another look from Dallas after finishing last season with a strong shooting stretch, and the Mavericks rewarded him with a two-way contract for another year. The move came as the team shuffled the back end of its roster, matching an offer sheet for Moussa Cisse and waiving Tyler Smith to create space for other two-way options.
Poulakidas is expected to suit up for Dallas this season, giving the Mavericks a young perimeter shooter worth watching as they sort through their development pieces. Still, his long-term future may not be settled in Texas, with EuroHoops.net reporting that Olympiacos and Panathinaikos are among the clubs keeping tabs on him for next year. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Hold The Leverage In Klay Thompson Trade Race
The Klay Thompson market has turned into one of the more interesting subplots around Dallas, with the Mavericks positioned in a spot that could let them dictate how this ends. Los Angeles has already been linked to a trade framework involving Jarred Vanderbilt and a future second-round pick, while Miamis interest has been described as much more conditional, hinging on Thompson reaching unrestricted free agency through a buyout.
For Dallas, the key point is simple: a trade keeps real value on the table, and that is the route the front office appears to prefer. The Lakers willingness to act now could complicate things for other teams hoping to wait it out, but no deal has been finalized, and the Mavericks still hold the leverage as the competing agendas continue to play out. [Read more 🡒]