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Mavericks Buy Out Klay Thompson, He Targets Heat Deal

8/22/2026

Summary

Thompson Joins Heat

Dallas Mavericks bought out guard Klay Thompson, granting him unrestricted free agency.
Thompson intends to sign with the Miami Heat after clearing waivers, sources say.
Heat plan a two-year, nearly $13 million contract with a player option, preserving $8 million mid-level exception.
Thompson averaged 12.9 points and 38.7% three-point shooting in two seasons with Dallas.

Summary

Thompson Passes Lillard

Klay Thompson passed Damian Lillard in January, moving into fourth on NBA’s all-time 3-point list with 2,899 makes.
He trails only Stephen Curry, James Harden and Ray Allen, 74 threes shy of third-most in league history.
The buyout clears $17.5 million from Dallas’s sheet, giving Mavericks flexibility to develop Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.
With Thompson gone, Dallas loses backcourt depth, leaving Max Christie and rookie Amen Thompson as guards.

History

Historical Context

LeBron James’ 2010 free-agency jump to the Miami Heat, a six-year $110 million contract, sparked the modern era of player empowerment and showed how star moves can reshape payrolls and create “superteams.” The Mavericks’ 2024 buyout of Klay Thompson, clearing cap space and enabling his two-year Miami contract, follows that same trend of high-profile relocations driving roster flexibility and market competition.

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Thompson Joins Heat

Dallas Mavericks bought out guard Klay Thompson, granting him unrestricted free agency.
Thompson intends to sign with the Miami Heat after clearing waivers, sources say.
Heat plan a two-year, nearly $13 million contract with a player option, preserving $8 million mid-level exception.
Thompson averaged 12.9 points and 38.7% three-point shooting in two seasons with Dallas.

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