Pelle Larsson may not be the loudest name in the Miami Heat’s mix, but he’s starting to sound like one of the most trusted.
That’s especially true now that Klay Thompson is in the building. Thompson, one of the NBA’s most seasoned voices, has seen enough role players rise and fall to know what matters. And when he looked at Larsson, he saw the kind of player who fits Miami’s way of doing business.
Thompson pointed to a summer run-in that left a strong impression. “I saw Pelle in Spain at the NBA Players Association sanctuary in Spain to see his work ethic.
I was very impressed with how much time he spent in the gym every day. I was like, 'That does seem like a Miami guy.'
I was very encouraged by his work ethic, and I'm just excited to meet my new teammates,” Thompson said about Larsson in the introductory presser.
That kind of praise carries weight coming from a four-time champion. Thompson has spent years around winning basketball, and he clearly recognizes the traits that travel: energy, discipline and the ability to do the little things on both ends of the floor. Larsson has built his reputation on exactly that.
He’s been a steady presence over the past few years, even if bigger names around him have tended to grab the attention. With Miami’s depth affected by the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, players such as Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware drew plenty of notice during their time with the Heat, but Larsson has quietly stayed in the mix as a dependable piece.
Now the spotlight is finally starting to widen. The Heat are trusting Larsson with a bigger role ahead of the 2026-27 season, and the early buzz inside the organization has only grown louder. His high-energy style and feel for the game make him useful on both ends, and that combination has clearly caught Thompson’s eye.
For Larsson, that’s a pretty good place to be. He’s headed into the 2026-27 season with more responsibility than ever, and with a teammate like Thompson already talking him up, the path to a real breakout looks wide open.
In Other News...
Heat's Wiggins Move Says Everything About Their New Team-Building Plan
Andrew Wiggins new deal with Miami turned out to be less about the present roster and more about the Heats long game. The team encouraged Wiggins to pick up his $30 million player option, then add a two-year extension worth $34 million, a structure designed to trim his cap number in future seasons and give the front office more room to maneuver.
For a fan base that first saw the arrangement and wondered what Miami was doing, the answer is becoming clearer: this is a financial play built for flexibility. The Heat are trying to keep the books cleaner as they shape the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and Wiggins contract now looks like another sign that the franchise is thinking well beyond the next season. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Could Still Be Eyeing One More Franchise Shaping Move
The Heat already made their splash this offseason by bringing in Klay Thompson on a team-friendly deal, a move that gave Miami another proven shot-maker and a veteran presence to slot into the mix. It was the kind of addition that can change the feel of a roster without forcing the organization to gut its future, and it also left open the question of whether Pat Riley and the front office might still have another major swing in mind before the dust fully settles.
One possibility gaining traction is a trade concept that would send Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell to Dallas for Kyrie Irving and Sergio De Larrea, though nothing official has been confirmed. The Mavericks are also said to be reconsidering Irvings status as the season and trade deadline approach, which only adds to the uncertainty around how this could unfold. For Miami, the intrigue is obvious: the Heat have already added one headline name, and the idea of pairing that with another franchise-altering move is the sort of thing that keeps this roster worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Just Raised The Pressure On Miami's New Big Three
Klay Thompsons arrival in Miami has only sharpened the conversation around what this roster is supposed to become. After the veteran guard was introduced following his two-year deal and buyout from Dallas, the Heat suddenly found themselves with another accomplished name alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, a trio that instantly changes the tone around the season and the expectations that come with it.
Mychal Thompson didnt exactly soften that discussion. The longtime NBA voice made it clear the Heat should be thinking in championship terms, with the Finals as the standard rather than the aspiration. For a team built around star power and the pressure that comes with it, Klays introduction did more than add a scorer - it raised the bar for what Miami is supposed to chase next. [Read more 🡒]