With the Miami Heat trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo to kick off a team-altering offseason, the goal for the team now is rounding out its roster and putting the pieces around the star. Though the Heat missed out on signing LeBron James, who chose to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, the team shifts focus and sets their sight on Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson.
As Miami has been linked to Thompson, fans got excited when seeing Antetokounmpo like a post on Instagram, which included a video from the account “The School of Hard Knocks,” as they interviewed the Dallas star.
There is no doubt that a further need to address for the Heat has been shooting, with Thompson being an obvious choice, though a hurdle remains that he's under contract with the Mavericks.
We all see what you’re doing here, Giannis 👁️ https://t.co/QBTbIVMxMV pic.twitter.com/HYrwttonfI
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 30, 2026
Klay Thompson is the Heat's top target
Speaking on the situation surrounding the Heat and Thompson, insider Shams Charania on “NBA Today” on ESPN would express how shooting is the “number one” priority for the team, with their top target being Thompson. With one year left on his contract, there are discussions being had by Dallas about whether the team could trade the 36-year-old, or buy him out, which the latter would be Miami's preferred option.
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“The Miami Heat’s number one priority right now is to acquire shooting. They found their number 1 target. That’s Klay Thompson. The problem is Klay has 1 year left on his contract, so they’re exploring whether they can trade for him, or whether this could end up in a buyout. We’ll see over the next several weeks,” Charania said.
REPORT: The Miami Heat are looking to acquire Klay Thompson via trade or buyout, per @ShamsCharania
“The Miami Heat’s number 1 priority right now is to acquire shooting. They found their number 1 target. That’s Klay Thompson. The problem is Klay has 1 year left on his contract… pic.twitter.com/oZdhdVb47D
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 28, 2026
Thompson's tenure with the Mavericks has been inconsistent, as besides his production, the direction of the team has vastly changed, with the thinking that the veteran is looking for a fresh start. Thompson has shot 39.1 percent and 38.3 percent from three-point range in the two seasons with Dallas, respectively, as his skills are needed to provide spacing in an Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo-led team.
It remains to be seen what the Mavericks do with Thompson, and how Miami pursues the guard.
With the Miami Heat trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo to kick off a team-altering offseason, the goal for the team now is rounding out its roster and putting the pieces around the star. Though the Heat missed out on signing LeBron James, who chose to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, the team shifts focus and sets their sight on Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson.