The rumor mill is churning on Klay Thompson again. And this time, it’s not about Golden State.
Reports have surfaced suggesting Thompson might be eyeing a move to the Miami Heat, which would put him in the same building as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. But here’s the thing: Thompson is still under contract with the Dallas Mavericks for another season. That $17.4 million salary for 2026-27 isn’t something either side can just pretend doesn’t exist.
NBA insider Marc Stein weighed in on what the Mavericks are likely to do, and his read is pretty straightforward. Per a report from Bleacher Report, Stein expects Dallas to shop Thompson before considering anything else.
“To this point as much has been relayed to me is the Mavs preference would be a trade,” Stein said. “I think it’s still early enough in the summer that if you’re the Mavs you would exhaust those options first, but there’s stuff we have to keep an eye on it.”
That sounds like a team that isn’t desperate to dump salary but also isn’t married to keeping Thompson around. The Mavericks have been through a lot of roster churn in the last couple years. Their cap sheet is complicated. And Thompson, now 36, is coming off a season where he averaged 11.7 points and shot 38.3% from three. Solid numbers for a veteran role player, but not the kind of production that makes a front office stubborn.
He played 69 games last season. That’s actually a decent number for a guy who’s had significant leg injuries in his past. But the athleticism isn’t what it was in the Golden State years. The lift on his jumper is flatter. The lateral movement isn’t there the way it used to be. He’s still a smart player who spaces the floor and doesn’t make many mistakes. But is that worth $17.4 million to a team that might want more flexibility?
A buyout isn’t off the table
If Dallas can’t find a trade partner, Stein suggested a buyout could be on the table. That would let Thompson walk and sign wherever he wants, while the Mavericks eat some of the cap hit. It’s not the cleanest solution, but it’s a way out if both sides want one.
The Heat are in a fascinating spot right now. They just pulled off the trade of the summer — maybe the trade of the decade — by landing Giannis Antetokounmpo. Adding a shooter like Thompson would give them exactly what they need: floor spacing around Giannis and a high-IQ player who doesn’t need the ball to be effective. A trio of Giannis, Bam, and Klay isn’t the same as the Heatles, but it’s a lot better than what Miami has had in recent years.
Thompson spent nine seasons in Golden State and has now been in Dallas for two. His legacy is already locked in as one of the best shooters of his generation. But the final chapter of his career is still being written. Whether that happens in Miami, Dallas, or somewhere else entirely is going to come down to how the Mavs handle the next few weeks.
No official trade talks have been confirmed. No buyout request has been filed. But the conversation has started. And in the NBA, that’s usually the first step toward something happening.
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