The Miami Heat still have a move or two to make before training camp, and one of the biggest names hovering around them is Klay Thompson.
Miami has been connected to Thompson for a while, and the door does not appear closed. As Christian Clark of The Athletic put it, “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."
That matters for a Heat team that already has a strong core but still needs a reliable shooter who can stretch the floor. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line said Miami is pushing hard for Thompson.
“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 the Heat can get him, it would be a major swing. Blake Silverman of SI wrote that Thompson could be the right fit if Dallas can’t work out a trade and the veteran ends up available.
“It’s no secret the 36-year-old Klay Thompson doesn’t fit the Mavericks’ plans any longer. And he likely wants to go chase another title in the twilight of his career, too.
The issue is that Dallas may not be able to find a trade for Thompson and a team willing and able to take on his $17.5 million salary. That leads to a potential buyout where the veteran shooter could go where he pleases.
The Heat are the most logical destination, as Miami needs depth after it gave up nearly all of its young players to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo,” Silverman wrote.
That kind of addition would reshape Miami’s outlook. Thompson would give the Heat the perimeter shooting they’re missing and help create more space for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Thompson has made $298 million in his career and remains one of the most accomplished shooters the league has ever seen. For Miami, that’s the appeal: another proven scorer on the outside, and maybe the piece that pushes the Heat into true title-contender territory.
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