Sharp-shooter Ethan Thompson, a standout for the Orlando Magic’s G-League team last season, accepted a training camp invitation from the Heat on Wednesday.
Thompson also gives the Heat a player of Puerto Rican descent on its roster, a day after the team announced it would play a preseason game against the Magic Oct. 4 in Puerto Rico.
This news comes after the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, announced Wednesday that it acquired the returning player rights to Thompson and a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA G League Draft from the Osceola Magic, in exchange for the returning player rights to forward Justin Champagnie, a first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2025 G League Draft and a second-round pick in the 2026 G League Draft.
The 6-4 shooting guard, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Miami, has played for three G-League teams: the Windy City Bulls, Osceola Magic and the Mexico City Capitanes.
Thompson, 24, was named third-team All G-League last season after averaging 18.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 39 percent on threes in 31 games. He averaged 22.8 points for the Mexico City G-League team two seasons ago.
After attending high school in Torrance, California, Thompson averaged 13.5 points and shot 33.8 percent on threes in four seasons at Oregon State. He went undrafted in 2021..
Previously, Thompson played for Puerto Rico at the 2016 FIBA America’s Under 18 championship, where he averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
The Heat now has 17 players under contract.
The 14 players under standard contracts: Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier, Norman Powell, Davion Mitchell, Simone Fontecchio, Haywood Highsmith, Nikola Jovic, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson.
Center Vlad Goldin and forward Myron Gardner are signed to two-way contracts, which permit players to appear in as many as 50 NBA games per season. Teams can carry as many as three players on two-way contracts, and those players can be subbed out at anytime.
The Heat is expected to sign a 15th player to a standard contract either before the season or at some point in November. Thompson and every Exhibit 10 player is eligible for a standard contract.
Thompson is this offseason’s first Heat player signed to an Exhibit 10 deal, which is essentially an invite to training camp. The Heat has an oral agreement on an Exhibit 10 contract with former University of Utah sharp-shooter Gabe Madsen, who played for the Warriors’ summer league team.
While 18 players (15 on standard contracts and three on two-way contracts) is the regular-season limit, NBA teams are allowed to carry as many as 21 players during the offseason and preseason (including up to three two-way contract players).
The Heat had some interest in retaining guard Dru Smith, who is coming off a torn Achilles, but NBA rules prohibited Miami from signing him to a two-way deal. He remains eligible for a standard contract.
The Heat is auditioning veteran NBA center/power forward Kai Jones this week; he’s eligible for a standard contract but not a two-way deal.
The Heat will open training camp on Sept. 30. The full NBA regular-season schedule will be announced on Thursday.