MIAMI — Klay Thompson has officially found his next NBA home — and the four-time champion is heading to South Beach.
The Miami Heat announced the signing of the five-time NBA All-Star after Thompson cleared waivers following a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, completing a move that could significantly reshape Miami’s championship ambitions heading into the 2026-27 season.
The 36-year-old guard arrives in Miami with one of the most decorated résumés among the league’s veteran players. Thompson won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and remains one of the most accomplished long-range shooters in NBA history.
The Heat had reportedly been waiting for an opportunity to bring him aboard, particularly after making another major move this offseason by acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Now, Miami has added another proven scorer to a core that already includes Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
From Dallas buyout to Miami opportunity
Thompson’s move became possible after Dallas bought out the final year of his contract.
He was originally scheduled to make $17.5 million in the final season of his Mavericks deal, but after expressing a desire to compete for a contender, the two sides reached an agreement that allowed him to enter free agency.
After clearing waivers Sunday, Thompson quickly finalized his move to Miami.
The Associated Press reported that Thompson agreed to a two-year deal worth approximately $11.5 million, with the second season at his option. ESPN had previously reported that the agreement was worth nearly $13 million, so the Heat’s official announcement should be treated as the definitive confirmation of the signing while the exact financial terms remain based on outside reporting.
Miami didn’t just sign a shooter
Thompson’s greatest calling card remains his three-point shooting.
He enters Miami ranked fourth all-time in made 3-pointers with 2,899, trailing only Stephen Curry, James Harden and Ray Allen. He has also made at least 200 three-pointers in 11 seasons and owns a career three-point percentage of roughly 41%.
But the Heat are not simply adding another perimeter scorer.
The bigger objective is spacing.
With Antetokounmpo capable of attacking the basket and Adebayo operating as a major interior and mid-range threat, Thompson gives Miami another player defenses cannot easily leave open beyond the arc.
That could create more room for Miami’s stars to operate.
Heat president Pat Riley also emphasized that Thompson’s value goes beyond his shooting, describing him as a battle-tested champion who can contribute on both ends of the floor.
Thompson’s Dallas chapter ends after two seasons
The move also closes a relatively disappointing chapter in Thompson’s career.
After spending his first 13 NBA seasons with Golden State, Thompson joined Dallas in 2024.
The Mavericks hoped his shooting and championship experience would complement their star-powered roster. But his two seasons in Dallas never quite produced the expected results.
Last season, Thompson averaged 11.7 points per game and shot 38.3% from three-point range, according to Reuters. He appeared in 69 games, starting eight.
Those numbers were well below the standards Thompson established during his prime with Golden State.
Still, his shooting threat remains significant — and Miami appears willing to bet that a contender environment can help maximize what he has left.
A very different Miami Heat is taking shape
Thompson’s arrival is another major piece in Miami’s aggressive offseason makeover.
The Heat have already acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from Milwaukee while also adding veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr. The organization is clearly constructing a roster designed to compete immediately rather than simply develop for the future.
Miami finished last season 43-39, according to Reuters, and ranked 11th in the NBA in three-point percentage at 36.1%. Adding Thompson directly addresses one of the team’s most obvious needs.
The equation is straightforward:
Giannis creates pressure at the rim. Adebayo commands attention inside and around the paint. Thompson stretches defenses from deep.
If those pieces fit, Miami could become a much more difficult matchup in the Eastern Conference.
Thompson is chasing one more championship
For Thompson, the move is about more than finding another NBA roster spot.
It represents another chance to compete for a championship late in his career.
He has already won four titles — in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022 — and has overcome major setbacks, including injuries that caused him to miss two entire seasons.
Miami is offering something Dallas ultimately could not: a clearer path toward immediate contention.
And that makes Thompson’s arrival one of the most intriguing moves of the NBA offseason.
The question now is no longer whether Klay Thompson can still shoot.
It’s whether his next championship run will begin in Miami.
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