The Miami Heat finally found their leading star this summer in Giannis Antetokounmpo. As a two-time MVP, NBA champion, and 10x All-Star, the Greek Freak has single-handedly changed Miami’s position from an afterthought in the East to serious title contenders. Even so, Miami has plans to add more before opening tip-off in October.
One player tied to the Heat is NBA veteran Klay Thompson, whose future on the tanking Dallas Mavericks remains uncertain. On paper, it seems like the ideal situation for Klay, and one Heat fan made it known in the comments of one of his recent Instagram posts. The post features Klay on the water, asking for directions to the disco. The fan responded by telling Klay, “We got plenty of [discos]… come and join us,” which earned a like from Thompson himself. It’s hardly hard-cut evidence of his arrival, but it shows us that Klay has at least thought about what life would be like in South Beach.
Klay Thompson liked a comment on his IG post saying come to Miami👀
Miami Heat are currently the favorites to land Klay if he gets a buyout with the Mavs. pic.twitter.com/zASbH4ts7J
— The HEAT Realm (@WadexFlash) July 28, 2026
The Heat are in the market for shooters right now, and Klay fits the bill. While he may no longer be the elite sharpshooter he used to be, he can still stretch the floor on reputation alone. Plus, with averages of 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 39.3% shooting last season, he showed he can still play meaningful minutes. If he can just stay healthy going forward, there’s reason to believe his game could be somewhat restored.
That’s why Thompson makes such a natural fit for the Heat, a team in win-now mode that’s in desperate need of depth. Besides Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins, Miami lacks any true sharpshooters, and Thompson fills that need. But with one year and $17.4 million on his deal, actually acquiring the former star guard is easier said than done. Besides cooperation from the Mavericks, it requires collective buy-in from the players themselves, who may have to adjust to accommodate a proven veteran like Klay.
“The Miami Heat’s number one priority right now is to acquire shooting. And they found their No. 1 target for that: Klay Thompson,” said Shams Charania on NBA Today. “The problem is Klay Thompson has one year left on his Mavs contract, so they’re exploring whether they can trade for him, whether this could end up in a buyout; we’ll see over the next several weeks.”
It’s unclear where Klay and the Mavs stand on a buyout agreement, but a clean break would make it much easier for the Heat. Since he wouldn’t sign for more than the veteran’s minimum, he could slide in the rotation right away at little to no risk for Miami. A trade is also possible, but the Heat would have to send back some salary (and likely some second-round picks) in a deal.
Ultimately, we don’t know how the situation with Klay will end, but it seems both he and the Heat are keen on joining forces. Of course, we also must consider the possibility of a potential return to the Warriors. At this stage of his career, nothing is off the table for Klay, and what happens next could determine how his post-Warriors career is remembered.
