Alright, here’s the kicker. (Soon-to-be, former) Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson shot just 38.3% from three last season, his lowest efficiency from deep in 14 NBA seasons. Yet the Miami Heat still see him as a must-have roster piece for next season. Pat Riley’s franchise has made its one demand clear time and again, but the Mavericks’ revamped front office just isn’t budging.

“There has been dialogue between Klay and Masai [Ujiri] at various points in this offseason,” NBA insider Marc Stein said on the DLLS Mavs podcast. “At this point, all we know is Miami is desperate for Klay Thompson, but they want to sign him as a free agent, and they would not be the only team interested.”

Stein’s reporting sheds light on how the Heat hacked off a considerable chunk of its roster to bring in Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis were offered up as part of the major deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving the roster thin on young talent.

That shortage partly explains why Miami has no interest in pursuing a trade for Thompson. The other reason could be that the Mavericks feel they’ll get draft capital (at the very least) in return for the sharpshooter. Moreover, Klay is owed $17.5 million this season, which isn’t a meager amount for the Heat to surrender.

Nikola Jovic, one of the last young pieces on Miami’s roster, momentarily popped up in Klay trade rumors, but it was shot down immediately…

“I would ignore these reports about Jovic,” another Heat insider, Ethan Skolnick, said on Five On The Floor: Miami Heat/NBA Podcast. “It’s just not really an option, from what I understand.”

The Athletic also reported that Dallas has already explored the trade market but hasn’t found a deal. However, the franchise doesn’t appear to be in a hurry. That’s because Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer revealed the Mavericks’ internal understanding is that they believe there’s a market “that’s shaping up for him.”

Crucially, Dallas has 16 standard contracts on its books at the time of writing, which is one more than the league maximum. So, even if the Mavericks find a straight trade for the sharpshooter, they will need to maneuver at least another piece.

Meanwhile, Thompson himself has not approached the team about a buyout. He averaged just 11.7 points last season while shooting career-lows, 39.3% from the field, 38.3% from the three-point line, and 76.6% from the free-throw line across 69 games. Despite this, Klay was still the second-best deep shooter on the Mavericks, only behind Max Christie at 40.4%.

Klay’s potential role in Miami would look different than it does in Dallas, since the Heat already have Giannis and Bam Adebayo handling primary scoring duties. That reduced role could actually work in Thompson’s favor, since Miami mainly needs a reliable shooter rather than a No. 1 or No. 2 option. His deep shooting would be more than enough as an excellent floor-spacer alongside the frontcourt scorers.

A projected Heat starting lineup with Klay would include Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bam Adebayo. Players like Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Bobby Portis would anchor the second unit.

For now, the Heat appear to be a decent destination for Thompson on paper, arguably the last team he calls home in his NBA career. However, there are other rivals who might give him an extra edge over what he considers his goal at 36.

A compelling rival in Klay Thompson’s next team battle

There is still a genuine possibility of the Los Angeles Lakers coming into the picture as a surprise suitor. The Warriors are also in the mix because of the heavy emotional connection with the player. Here’s why either of them is an actual option.

“I want to compete for a championship, not necessarily win another one, but have the chance to go and try and get another one,” Thompson said on Twitch. “I want to play a role on a team that can make a deep playoff run, whether it’s this season or next season. That’s really my only goal.”

Thompson has made it clear that he wants to compete and win. At a July fan event, the sharpshooter told a Dubs supporter that he had a year left on his contract and “it’d be nice to end it in Golden State.”

Meanwhile, NBA insider Brett Siegel reported that Warriors sources told him they’d welcome Thompson back with “open arms” if he secures a buyout and reaches free agency.

Now, Steve Kerr might not have the roster to go all the way and actually win the championship, but the motivation in the Bay Area franchise is significantly high…

That’s because Stephen Curry has only a year left on his deal (with a lucrative extension supposed to be on the horizon), and Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are on expiring contracts as well. Kerr’s terms were renewed as head coach for another two years, but it’s clear that the dynasty is on its last legs.

Klay returning to this team would take the motivation to win further through the roof. The dynasty sharpshooter will also add more veteran experience to the lineup, something that it certainly doesn’t lack already. Meanwhile, owner Joe Lacob is known to aggressively explore blockbuster moves over the years.

However, both parties would need to get past their pay dispute from when Klay was with the franchise. Even though he left the team on a peaceful note with an emotional statement to the fanbase, there was a reported tear internally over Thompson not getting the maximum contract he deserved. The final offer he reportedly said no to was a two-year, $24 million annual extension.

Thompson is also being linked to the Lakers, who reportedly pursued him when he left the Warriors in 2024. Instead, the sharpshooter joined the Mavericks to try to win a title with Luka Doncic. We all know how that panned out. But Doncic could again be the reason why Thompson is interested in the Lakers this time.

Also, given the familial connection that Klay’s dad, Mychal, has with the franchise, when he won two titles in 1987 and 1988, the Purple and Gold are another decent win-now option for Thompson. Head coach JJ Redick is under immense pressure to make it work with the Slovenian at the helm. So expect the newly built LA roster to deliver results or fall flat completely…

It is important to note that both the Warriors’ and Lakers’ interest is reportedly subject to Klay securing a buyout and becoming a free agent. So, the first step for anything to happen this offseason still lies in the Mavericks’ hands.