Mavericks buy out Klay Thompson; Heat expected to sign him

sportsAug 21, 202643145

The Dallas Mavericks announced on Friday they reached a contract buyout with five-time All-Star Klay Thompson, ending his two-season stint in Dallas. Thompson, 36, played 21 games alongside Luka Dončić and 45 games with Kyrie Irving while totaling 418 three-pointers and appearing in 141 of 164 possible regular-season games for the Mavericks. Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said, "Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization." Thompson averaged 11.7 points while shooting 38.3 percent from three on 7.6 attempts per game this past season and shifted to a bench role after starting 72 games in 2024-25 and starting eight of 69 games in 2025-26. He was set to make 17.46 million dollars in 2026-27 before the buyout. Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat once he clears waivers on Sunday, according to league sources, a move that coincided with DeMar DeRozan reaching a one-year agreement with the Denver Nuggets later the same day. The Mavericks went 65-99 over Thompson's two seasons as Dallas endured roster upheaval including the midseason trade of Luka Dončić and injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.

John

@johnbull.wtf

The Klay Thompson Mavericks era is going to be defined by him dropping the bag against Megan Thee Stallion. Lmfao

384h ago

John7

like, I legit can't name another thing he did there

The Athletic

@theathletic.com

The Dallas Mavericks have reached a buyout agreement with Klay Thompson. Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat once he clears waivers on Sunday, but contract details have yet to be finalized, according to a league source. www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...

304h ago

KeithSmithNBA

@keithsmithnba.bsky.social

Looks like Klay Thompson is getting most of the remaining NTMLE from the Heat. Enough will be leftover for Miami to fill at least one more roster spot with a veteran minimum signing. That'll bring Miami to the regular season minimum of 14 players on standard contracts.

223h ago

Dalton Johnson

@daltonjohnson.bsky.social

The Warriors will play Klay Thompson and the new-look Heat twice this season @nbcswarriors.bsky.social November 5 in San Francisco January 17 in Miami

85h ago

Jesse Raub

@jesseraub.online

i'm not sure 2026 Klay Thompson fixes your outside shooting problems

73h ago

Jesse Raub2

i'm not going to lie, i think the Heat are going to maybe be worse this year than last year

MEB1

I think the biggest problem is you have to start him? But he's a 20 minute guy. But they have so many bad defenders on the bench already. It's a "good" signing because its the end of August and what else is happening, but Spo has to have an all-time miracle worker season

bwpngold.bsky.social1

Who could have predicted that the Heat would have to fork over all of the young talent and depth on the roster and give up most of their future picks to acquire Giannis? Everyone but Giannis? Isn’t Dame his friend?

Andrew Tobolowsky

@andytobo.bsky.social

I wonder if NBA players are ever going to care about how hard the new salary cap set up is on older players. Like I get it, but Peyton Watson getting 20 mil a year while DeMar Derozan gets 4 mil to replace him and Klay freakin' Thompson gets bought out w/ his 16 mil contract is pretty rough

54h ago

Kristy

@kristyapril.bsky.social

I don’t really have anything negative to say about Klay Thompson. He got a raw deal in that he was sold a dream to play for a team that they knew wouldn’t exist much longer. He seemed to like Dallas and was respectful towards all the shenanigans and the fans. I wish him well.

64h ago

Joseph

@josephruscitti.bsky.social

Klay Thompson finishes his Dallas Mavericks career with 1,815 points, tied for 52nd in franchise history with Sean Rooks.

65h ago

Kurt Helin

@basketballtalk.bsky.social

DeMar DeRozan reportedly to sign with Denver Nuggets, giving the team needed depth www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/dem...

34h ago

Ira Winderman

@irawinderman.bsky.social

Klay Thompson negotiates buyout from Mavericks, clearing pathway to Heat. www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/08/21/k... Heat now have their shooter and likely starting shooting guard.

45h ago

Isaiah Samad

@zaytaju.bsky.social

Klay Thompson on the Miami Heat makes so much sense!

35h ago

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

NBA Notes: Lakers, Jonathan Kuminga, Heat, Klay Thompson, Jazz hoopswire.com/nba-lakers-j...

3Yesterday

FloridaSunJournal

@floridasunjournal.bsky.social

Mavericks Release Klay Thompson via Buyout; Guard Expected to Sign with Heat The Dallas Mavericks and five-time All-Star Klay Thompson have agreed to part ways through a contract buyout, concluding a turbulent two-year stint that unraveled following the franchise's shocking mid-season trade of…

4h ago

News 📰

@some-news.bsky.social

The Dallas Mavericks are very clearly heading into a new era.From hiring Masai Ujiri as the franchise’s lead executive, to moving on from Jason Kidd to Dusty May as head coach – there’s little secret that Dallas is turning a new leaf.This much is continuing to be true with the franchise’s ..

21h ago

lickmeimacid

@lickmeimacid.bsky.social

Klay Thompson choosing to go to Miami just reeks his ego of being crushed by Meg Thee and needing to surround himself with hoes to make himself feel cool again 🤷‍♂️ so so lame

23h ago

3 sources

nytimes.comKlay Thompson, Mavericks reach buyout agreement; veteran expected to join Heat: Source espn.comMavs buy out Klay Thompson's deal; Heat move on deck, sources say floridasunjournal.comMavericks Release Klay Thompson via Buyout; Guard Expected to Sign with Heat

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Mavericks buy out Klay Thompson; Heat expected to sign him

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