It has been well over a month since the free agency window opened, and after a flurry of activity in the first few weeks, things seem to have come to a standstill. Regardless, there are still some noteworthy moves that are possible. Among these, Klay Thompson‘s next destination continues to garner some interest.
It has been widely reported that Klay Thompson’s time with the Dallas Mavericks may be coming to an end. With the Mavericks embracing the rebuild and shifting focus to their younger players, a 36-year-old veteran like Thompson is unlikely to remain in the picture.
Due to this shift, many teams have emerged as suitors for Klay Thompson, including the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Lakers. However, with Dallas expressing some hesitation about buying out his $17.4 million contract, a trade appears to be the preferred course of action.
While the noise surrounding the Warriors and Lakers is significant, the Heat have shown far more interest in pursuing Klay Thompson. Thus, even though a trade may not be the ideal approach for them, there is reason to believe the Heat would be more inclined to negotiate.
On that note, we present a potential three-team trade package that could help facilitate the deal. Here is the hypothetical trade proposal:
Proposed Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: Klay Thompson, 2029 first-round pick (NOP)
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jordan Poole
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Nikola Jovic, Caleb Martin
Most trade proposals involving Klay Thompson and the Heat have included Nikola Jovic, who is primarily positioned as the key figure because of his $16.2 million contract. However, by introducing the New Orleans Pelicans into the mix, specifically to offload Jordan Poole‘s $34.0 million expiring contract, we may see more interest from all parties.
With the Mavericks sending out roughly $27.4 million in this deal, absorbing the excess of $6.6 million should not be an issue, as it keeps them just under the $201 million tax line. Meanwhile, given that the Pelicans are shedding salary and the Heat are receiving their preferred target, this deal seems quite enticing.
How Do The Heat Benefit From Klay Thompson’s Addition?
Although the Heat remain in discussions with DeMar DeRozan and Bradley Beal, reports indicate that acquiring Klay Thompson has been a priority. Hence, with this deal, Miami adds a player they have been pursuing for the better part of a month.
For the Heat, Klay Thompson may be the ideal addition. As a veteran sharpshooter with championship experience, the 36-year-old brings valuable leadership and experience that can’t be taught.
Considering that he also averaged 11.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game on 39.3% shooting from the field and 38.3% from three-point range last season, the four-time NBA champion serves as a reliable perimeter threat when paired with dominant post players like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
By pairing Klay Thompson’s addition with a first-round pick to begin rebuilding Miami’s war chest of draft picks, the Heat may be quite satisfied with this deal.
How Does This Trade Impact The Mavericks?
For the Mavericks, giving up Thompson would only make sense if they received another young player. On that note, acquiring Jordan Poole, while not ideal, could be quite favorable.
Poole is far removed from the player he was during Golden State’s championship run in 2022. Despite this, the guard has displayed the ability to score in bunches when given free rein on offense.
Realistically, Poole isn’t likely to be the primary option in Dallas’ system. However, with averages of 13.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 37.2% shooting from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc, the 27-year-old will earn minutes in the rotation, essentially gaining an opportunity to carve out a larger role for himself.
Given that he is on an expiring contract, this is also a low-risk addition for Dallas.
Why Do The Pelicans Do This Trade?
Although Poole is a gifted scorer, the biggest issue with him is his inflated contract, which justifies New Orleans’ wishes to trade him. While this trade scenario allows the Pelicans to do so, what they receive in return is noteworthy.
A package consisting of a talented young player and a versatile veteran is typically viewed favorably. This case is no different. With the additions of Nikola Jovic and Caleb Martin, the Pelicans would be rebuilding their core. Considering that the franchise has made no major moves this summer, acquisitions like these could certainly help boost the roster.
More than the Pelicans, Jovic may be the one who benefits most from this move. Given how he has fallen out of favor with Miami’s coaching staff, especially after an underwhelming season of averaging 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds on 36.6% shooting from the field, the Serbian forward needs a different environment.
In this regard, joining a young team like the Pelicans would be quite promising. Although Jovic isn’t likely to earn a starting spot, he could work his way into a key role after starting on the bench.
While he isn’t a star-caliber player, Caleb Martin’s ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor is noteworthy. Unfortunately, last season’s averages of 3.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game don’t do him much justice.
As a veteran with two-way upside, Martin could bring stability to the Pelicans’ bench. Although he may lose out on playing time due to a clash with Herb Jones, the 30-year-old remains effective.
Should Miami Continue Pursuing Klay Thompson?
As mentioned earlier, Klay Thompson has been identified as a priority for the Heat this offseason. The veteran’s reputation as a sharpshooter and his experience as a champion position him as an invaluable asset. Despite this, there is merit in believing he is not what the Heat need at this stage.
The Miami Heat have created a formidable core by pairing Giannis Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo. Acquiring Antetokounmpo undoubtedly shook up the balance of Miami’s roster, but it also created other issues.
With Tyler Herro headed out of Miami, the Heat have been left thin in the backcourt. And, even though Davion Mitchell has shown a commitment to improving and embracing a larger role, the lack of reliable playmaking depth seems to be a greater concern than perimeter shooting at this stage.
The Heat currently feature players like Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell, all of whom are capable of shooting from deep. Unfortunately, with only Mitchell, Adebayo, and Antetokounmpo sharing playmaking duties, it could be argued that the Heat might be better served by pursuing a point guard instead of trading for Klay Thompson.
