New NBA Rumors Reveal Klay Thompson Gave Up Huge Money on Mavs Contract to Land with Heat

Klay Thompson reportedly sacrificed $9.8 million of his 2026-27 salary to secure a buyout from the Dallas Mavericks, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Per multiple reports, Thompson is planning to sign a two-year, $13 million deal with the Miami Heat to join Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo following his divorce from the Mavs.

Thompson changing addresses makes sense, even if the financial cost to do so was fairly steep.

The Heat desperately needed more shooting on the perimeter, and while the 36-year-old Thompson is no longer one of the league's elite 3-and-D wings, he still averaged 11.7 points and shot 38.3 percent from three in 69 games for the Mavericks last season.

Miami could utilize him in a sixth-man role behind a starting five of Giannis, Adebayo, Davion Mitchell, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Andrew Wiggins. Or Thompson could start with Hardaway coming off the bench. Either way, the depth chart thins out considerably after that, and players like Bobby Portis and either Thompson or Hardaway will have considerable roles off the bench.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, are rebuilding around a younger roster, headlined by second-year star Cooper Flagg. Thompson's buyout will allow the Mavericks to give more minutes to younger, ascending talents.

"Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization," Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said in a statement. "We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward."