Klay Thompson is a Miami Heat player now, and honestly it's a little weird to type that sentence about a guy who spent 13 seasons being the human embodiment of the Golden State dynasty. But here we are. The 4-time champ cleared waivers Sunday and locked in a 2-year deal worth $11.5 million, with a player option on year 2 and a 15% trade kicker baked in, according to The Athletic.
Klay Thompson cleared waivers Sunday and agreed to sign a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Miami Heat, a league source told The Athletic. The source spoke anonymously because the deal had not yet been announced. The second year is a player option, and the deal also includes a 15 percent trade kicker.
Shams Charania confirmed the same terms shortly after, reporting that Thompson's agent Greg Lawrence finalized the deal for the splash brother to keep his career going in South Beach. It's a quick turnaround from his exit in Dallas — the Mavericks bought out the final season of his contract, which was set to pay him $17.5 million, and Thompson reportedly gave up real money to get out.
Thompson cleared waivers today and his agent Greg Lawrence finalized the two-year deal plus a player option for the four-time NBA champion to play in Miami.
The Mavericks stint never quite clicked. Jason Kidd moved Thompson to the bench just 7 games into last season, a jarring shift for a guy Dallas had promised a starting spot when it traded for him in 2024. He finished the year shooting 38.7% from 3 while averaging 12.9 points, respectable numbers but a far cry from the All-Star peak Warriors fans remember. Now he gets a fresh runway in Miami, plugging in as a movement shooter next to a Heat roster that's been retooling all summer.
Jeff Teague says he’s taking the Heat over the Sixers now that they’ve signed Klay Thompson. “Don’t let Jrue Holiday get a buyout and go to Miami. We (Heat) the best team in the East, competing with the Knicks” (Via @club520podcast / h/t @TheHeatCentral)
That's the take rippling through NBA media right now — not just that Thompson is a Heat player, but what it means for the East's pecking order. A team that's already scrappy and well-coached just added a proven, high-volume shooter for pennies on the dollar. Whether Thompson has enough left to matter in a playoff series is the real question, but the price was right for Miami to find out.