The Mavericks are staring at a tight cap situation heading into the 2026-27 season, and that reality is shaping how they handle Klay Thompson’s future. With draft capital already spent down in recent years, Dallas does not have much room to maneuver as it tries to build around Cooper Flagg while he’s still on his rookie deal.
That’s why a simple salary dump for Thompson is off the table. Dallas wants a real return, not just relief, and Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic has emerged as the name to watch in any deal.
Thompson is in the final year of his contract at about $17.5 million, and according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks have made it clear they prefer to trade him rather than buy him out. Miami, meanwhile, has been pursuing Thompson aggressively, exploring both trade and buyout options.
That interest gives Dallas leverage. If the Heat are this determined to land Thompson, the Mavericks can push for Jovic to be the centerpiece of the package.
Jovic, 23, fits the financial side of the deal almost perfectly. His $16.2 million salary is close enough to Thompson’s number that a straight swap works without Dallas needing to tack on extra players just to balance the money.
The 6-foot-10 forward also comes with a fresh four-year, $62.4 million extension from Miami. Last season, he put up 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. His production dipped as his role shrank, but his size and shooting touch make him a natural fit alongside Flagg.
With the Mavericks’ asset cupboard nearly bare, getting a 23-year-old on a solid contract would be a meaningful win. And if Miami is willing to include a draft pick on top of Jovic, Dallas could turn Thompson’s departure into something far better than letting him walk away in a buyout.
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For Miami, the intrigue is less about what Jovic has shown in flashes than whether he can make that promise stick in a real NBA role. He has looked better with Team Serbia overseas, and the Heat would love to see that carry over once the games matter again, especially with a roster that could use more playmaking and a forward who can complement both Giannis and Bam Adebayo. [Read more 🡒]
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DeRozan is not the only front-line name worth watching, either, as the bigger picture around the league continues to shift with restricted free agency and other team priorities still in flux. Jalen Durens contract situation in Detroit has already created one of those slow-burn summer storylines, and with several contenders sorting through their own plans, Miamis pursuit of veteran help could become a lot more complicated before it becomes clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Just Got Pulled Into A Wild LeBron And Giannis Twist
The 2026 NBA offseason took a strange turn around the league, and Miami found itself in the middle of it when Giannis Antetokounmpo landed with the Heat. The move came after a Knicks team fresh off a championship decided not to chase a major shakeup, even with the kind of star power that usually changes the whole conversation in June and July.
LeBron James ended up elsewhere, too, with Philadelphia becoming his new home in a twist that only added to the sense that New York had quietly altered the market by standing pat. For Miami, the bigger picture is simple enough: the Heat added one of the leagues biggest names, but the path that brought him there was shaped by a Knicks decision that left two superstars looking for a different landing spot. [Read more 🡒]