Klay Thompson is set to take his talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.
Securing a buyout for the final year of his current contract with the Dallas Mavericks, the former NBA star decided to go to Miami by signing a two-year deal that will pay him nearly $14 million.
Thompson’s decision to join the Heat is a new major victory for Pat Riley and the Miami front office as they continue building toward a new chapter alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
For the Lakers, however, it marks another disappointing outcome.
Los Angeles had been linked to Thompson this offseason, but just like in 2024, the Lakers were ultimately unable to secure his commitment despite their strong connections to the former NBA star.
Anthony Davis' health concerned Klay Thompson in 2024 free agency to join the Lakers
Klay Thompson entered the 2024 offseason as a marquee unrestricted free agent who bitterly left the Golden State Warriors after becoming a core piece of the Dubs dynasty amid contract disputes.
Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks via a multi-team, sign-and-trade deal on a three-year, $50 million contract. He chose Dallas over a more lucrative offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to pursue contention.
Thompson had shown consideration in going to his hometown LA team. Yet, according to Christian Clark of the Athletic, the future Hall of Famer was pessimistic about Anthony Davis' injury history.
"Back in the summer of 2024, Thompson’s representatives had discussions with the Lakers about him winding up there," the report indicated. "It would have made sense on several levels. Thompson has deep ties to Los Angeles. He spent much of his childhood in the city and still owns a home there.
"But one of the reasons Thompson chose the Mavericks over the Lakers was that he had concerns about Davis’ availability, a source with knowledge of his thinking said."
Disastrous Mavs tenure leads Klay Thompson to new, bright Heat beginnings
Klay Thompson joined Dallas with the lofty thought of playing alongside Luka Doncic and competing for his fifth NBA title, only to be blindsided by the most infamous trade in NBA history.
In an unlikely twist of fate, Thompson found himself sharing the court with Anthony Davis. Doncic was shipped by Nico Harrison and the Mavs leadership to the Los Angeles Lakers in a stunner blockbuster trade.
And the rest is simply history: Davis struggled to stay healthy and live up to the Mavericks’ expectations, eventually being traded to the Washington Wizards in the past 2025-26 season, while Harrison was ultimately dismissed. Fortunately for Dallas, they miraculously bounced back from the disastrous Doncic trade by landing their new franchise centerpiece, Cooper Flagg.
For Thompson, this roller-coaster experience left him stuck in mediocrity in Dallas. And now, as he enters a new chapter with the Heat by rejecting a chance at an LA homecoming, the five-time All-Star can only hope to return to relevance and resume his pursuit of a fifth NBA title.