The Miami Heat may not have Klay Thompson officially signed yet, but the first real question around him is already hanging in the air: does he start, or does he come off the bench?
It’s the kind of decision that can look like a luxury from the outside. Inside the building, though, it’s still a choice that needs a clean answer.
Miami already has plenty of new pieces to sort through, and the last thing it needs is more uncertainty around roles. For Thompson, clarity matters from day one.
That decision, of course, lands with Erik Spoelstra.
If the Heat line up the way they’re expected to, Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bam Adebayo would occupy the first four spots in the starting five. That leaves one opening at shooting guard, and Miami has three realistic names in the mix: Thompson, Pelle Larsson, and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Any of those three could get a look in the starting group at some point this season. The bigger question is who gets the first shot.
Thompson would make plenty of sense there. His 3-point shooting would help the floor open up immediately, and Spoelstra has never been shy about trusting veterans who have earned that kind of responsibility.
Still, there’s a case for bringing him off the bench too. In that setup, he could give the second unit a steady veteran wing and have the freedom to fire away when Giannis and Bam are both off the floor.
Either path seems workable because Thompson is the kind of professional who should handle whatever comes his way. If Miami needs him to start, he can do that.
If it needs him to be a secondary scoring option on certain nights, he can still provide it, even if that’s not something he can sustain every game anymore. And if the role is simply to be a specialist, that fits too.
So the issue isn’t whether Thompson can contribute. It’s how the Heat want to use him first. Right now, that part is still unresolved, and it’s one Spoelstra and his staff will need to settle sooner rather than later.
In Other News...
Heat Title Hype Now Hinges On One Big Roster Question
The Heat have spent the offseason reshaping their roster with an unmistakable win-now edge, adding proven championship experience and keeping Andrew Wiggins in the fold on a new extension. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. are among the names now linked to Miami, a clear sign the organization is pushing its chips in ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season and trying to build a group with real playoff bite.
The biggest remaining question is how much farther the front office can go in turning that talent into a finished contender. Klay Thompson is reportedly working through a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks and is expected to land in Miami, which would add another veteran scorer and a very different kind of floor-spacing threat to a roster already undergoing major change. What happens next could determine whether this summer is remembered as a strong setup or the point when the Heat finally push the project over the top. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompsons Next Role Just Reshaped Miamis Free Agency Plans
Miamis offseason plan has started to tilt around a familiar kind of question for this front office: fit. With Klay Thompson expected to land in South Florida on a two-year deal after his buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, the Heat are looking at a lineup that adds more shooting and spacing, and that new shape appears to have influenced how theyve approached the rest of free agency.
DeMar DeRozan reportedly viewed that arrangement as part of the problem, since the Heats roster composition and Thompsons anticipated role at shooting guard made it hard to see where DeRozan would slot in cleanly. He ultimately chose Denver instead, leaving Miami with a clearer picture of what it wants, even if the ripple effects of that decision are still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Still Have One Important Roster Move Left
The Heat have been busy reshaping the roster, and the additions of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson have given Miami a far different look heading into the season. Even with those headline moves, there is still a practical question hanging over the group: how to shore up the bench after losing several players and keep the rotation from looking thin once the season gets rolling.
Miami still has two open roster spots, and one of them could be used before opening night to give the team a little more balance. Nick Richards would address size and interior depth, Bruce Brown Jr. would bring versatility and defensive help, and Ochai Agbaji offers another kind of wing option, leaving the Heat with a decision that could shape how sturdy the roster feels beyond the top names. [Read more 🡒]