The agreement has been reached between the Dallas Mavericks and Klay Thompson for a contract buyout, marking the end of a two-year period that was disrupted by the unexpected trade of Luka Doncic.
Thompson is set to join the Miami Heat after clearing waivers, as confirmed by a reliable source familiar with the plans of the five-time All-Star. The details have not been publicly disclosed by Thompson yet, but he may potentially sign with the Heat as early as Sunday if he remains unclaimed by another team.
The decision for the buyout follows two playoff misses by the Mavericks during Thompson’s time with the team, which followed Doncic leading Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024.
Thompson came to Dallas in a sign-and-trade deal from Golden State, providing the Mavericks with a renowned 3-point shooter to complement Doncic and another scoring guard in Kyrie Irving.
However, the promising trio’s expectations were shattered after Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, who struggled with injuries, shortly before Irving suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Subsequently, Davis was traded to the Washington Wizards the following season.
The franchise faced setbacks due to the Doncic trade but managed to win the draft lottery, selecting standout rookie Cooper Flagg from Duke, who later won Rookie of the Year, injecting new optimism into the team.
Flagg’s arrival led to Thompson transitioning to a bench role for the first time since his rookie season with Golden State.
Thompson’s buyout is part of a significant overhaul of the Mavericks’ roster, leaving only five players from two years ago, alongside new front office executives and coaching staff.
Thompson, known for his title-winning achievements with the Warriors alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, spent 13 seasons with Golden State before his time with Dallas. Despite missing seasons due to injuries, he maintained solid averages during his Mavericks tenure.
A highly regarded shooter, Thompson moved up to fourth place on the all-time 3-point list in January, trailing behind Curry, James Harden, and Ray Allen.
Having only missed the playoffs twice with the Warriors, Thompson matched that number in his short tenure with the Mavericks.
Acknowledging Thompson’s contributions, Ujiri expressed gratitude for the player’s impact on the Mavericks organization and his remarkable career.
In other NBA news, DeMar DeRozan is set to join the Denver Nuggets on a one-year deal, bringing his veteran experience to the team in pursuit of his first championship. This move follows a series of team transitions for DeRozan in his 18-year career, with the Nuggets aiming to benefit from his skills after a significant trade involving Peyton Watson.