Klay Thompson Set to Join Miami Heat, Heading to South Beach After Dallas Buyout

$175,000 left on his contract — that's what it took to trigger a self-initiated exit. Klay Thompson didn't even wait out the final stretch of his deal with the Dallas Mavericks before requesting a buyout, with the team sitting at a 26-56 record last season, nowhere near contention. According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Shams Charania, Thompson has cleared waivers and is expected to sign with the Miami Heat next.

The timing of this move is no coincidence. The Heat just completed their blockbuster acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and with Bam Adebayo already anchoring the paint, what they've been missing is perimeter spacing. Over his two seasons in Dallas, Thompson averaged 12.9 points per game while shooting 38.7% from three, pushing his career three-point total to 2,899 — good for fourth all-time in NBA history.

For the Mavericks, letting go of the five-time All-Star isn't a total loss — team president Masai Ujiri already thanked Thompson for his contributions in an official statement. On one side, a rebuilding team giving its star the freedom to chase a title; on the other, a 34-year-old sharpshooter searching for one last shot at a championship in South Beach. The logic behind this buyout is written clearly in the numbers.

Thompson is expected to finalize his deal with the Heat once he officially clears waivers, at which point he'll form a new core trio alongside Antetokounmpo and Adebayo heading into the new season.