Where is Klay Thompson playing this season? He cleared waivers and officially signed with the Miami Heat on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Why did he leave Dallas?
Thompson asked for the exit because he wanted a shot at a title contender. The Mavericks obliged.
His numbers had slipped in his one season there. He averaged 11.7 points across 69 games, with career lows in shooting at 39.3 percent overall and 38.3 percent from three.
How did the buyout actually work?
Dallas and Thompson reached the agreement on Friday, August 21. Here is what happened between the handshake and the new jersey.
- Thompson and the Mavericks agreed to a buyout on Friday, ending his contract early.
- He gave up the $17.5 million guaranteed to him for the 2026-27 season under that deal.
- He cleared waivers over the weekend, making him a free agent.
- He signed with Miami on Sunday.
What does the new Heat contract pay him?
The deal is worth roughly $13 million over two years. The second season is a player option, and it carries a 15 percent trade kicker.
Why did Miami want him?
The Heat made Thompson their top target on the market after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade. They see him as a floor-spacer alongside Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Heat president Pat Riley made the pitch to fans directly: “Klay is one of the most iconic players to ever suit up in the NBA. A four-time battle tested world champion who will fit perfectly into his role as an all-around player at both ends of the court. We all talk about his shooting skill, but there is so much more he brings to the game. We are blessed that Klay chose the Heat in our quest to challenge for championships,” Riley said.
What does he bring from Golden State?
Thompson spent 13 seasons with the Warriors before a sign-and-trade sent him to Dallas in the summer of 2024. In that stretch he won four championships and made five All-Star teams, all with Golden State.
That history is what Riley is leaning on. Readers curious about how modern rosters chase that kind of spacing can find more in this breakdown of how analytics changed shot selection.
How has he played against the Heat?
Thompson has faced Miami 21 times in his career, averaging 19.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in those games. Over his last five meetings with the Heat, he has averaged 17.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
What happens next in Dallas?
The Mavericks are rebuilding around Cooper Flagg. That shift already included hiring Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz into the front office and firing head coach Jason Kidd.
The full terms of the Heat deal, including Riley’s comments, are detailed in the official NBA.com report on the signing. Growth around the sport is not limited to one signing, either, as this piece on women’s basketball growth and the new media opportunity shows.
