DALLAS, United States — The Dallas Mavericks and Klay Thompson have agreed to a contract buyout, bringing an abrupt end to the five-time All-Star’s two-year spell with the franchise. Thompson is expected to join the Miami Heat after clearing waivers, according to a person familiar with his plans who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move has not yet been publicly announced by Thompson.
- Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a contract buyout.
- Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat if he clears waivers.
- The 35-year-old’s two seasons in Dallas ended without a playoff appearance.
- His Mavericks tenure was heavily affected by the trade of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving’s ACL injury.
Klay Thompson’s Mavericks tenure ends after two seasons
Thompson arrived in Dallas in a sign-and-trade from the Golden State Warriors with the expectation that his elite three-point shooting would strengthen a team built around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Those plans changed dramatically after Dallas traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers before the 2025 trade deadline. The Mavericks received Anthony Davis in the blockbuster deal, but the move was followed by another major setback when Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee a month later.
Irving has not played since that injury, while Davis was later moved to the Washington Wizards shortly before the February trade deadline of the following season.
Dallas failed to reach playoffs in Thompson era
The Mavericks missed the playoffs in both seasons Thompson spent with the team. That marked a sharp contrast with the franchise’s position before his arrival, when Doncic had led Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024.
The sequence of major roster changes left Thompson without the star-studded supporting cast that Dallas had envisioned when it brought him in. The departure of Doncic and injuries to Irving fundamentally altered the team’s direction.
Dallas nevertheless produced an unexpected turnaround of sorts in the 2025 draft lottery, overcoming long odds to secure the No. 1 overall selection. The Mavericks used the pick on Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, who went on to win Rookie of the Year.
Thompson moved into reserve role
Flagg’s arrival also changed Thompson’s role on the court. The veteran guard came off the bench in most games, marking the first time since his rookie season with Golden State that he had primarily operated as a reserve.
Thompson’s move to Dallas had originally represented a significant change after his long association with Golden State. He had established himself as one of the NBA’s premier three-point shooters during his Warriors career and had been a key part of the team’s championship success.
Instead, his Dallas stint ended without the postseason opportunity the franchise had hoped to create when it acquired him.
Miami Heat emerging as Thompson’s next destination
According to the person familiar with Thompson’s plans, the Miami Heat are expected to be his next team once he clears waivers. The person did not disclose the information publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity.
If Thompson is not claimed by another team during the waiver process, he could be eligible to sign with Miami as early as Sunday.
The potential move would give the Heat an experienced perimeter scorer and a player with extensive playoff experience. However, the signing cannot be completed until the waiver process is resolved.
A franchise reshaped since Doncic’s departure
Thompson’s departure is another chapter in the dramatic transformation of the Mavericks since the Doncic trade. The team went from an NBA Finals appearance in 2024 to missing the playoffs during both of Thompson’s seasons.
The franchise’s unexpected lottery victory and selection of Flagg have provided a new foundation, but the roster has undergone significant changes in a short period. Thompson’s buyout now removes another major piece of the roster built around the team’s previous era.
For Thompson, the expected move to Miami would provide an opportunity to begin another chapter after an unsuccessful Dallas run. The five-time All-Star will first have to clear waivers before his reported move to the Heat can become official.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
