Overview
- Weekend reports identified Klay Thompson as Miami’s top target and said the Heat are keeping their $7 million mid-level exception open while waiting for a Mavericks buyout rather than rushing a trade.
- Thompson has one year left on his Dallas contract so Miami would need either a trade or a buyout that likely requires Thompson to forfeit salary before he could sign with the Heat.
- The Heat face a narrow trade path because the Giannis deal removed many tradable assets, leaving only a few players such as Nikola Jovic, Davion Mitchell or Bobby Portis who could be moved in one-for-one deals.
- Miami is vetting other veteran options — DeMar DeRozan (recently waived), Zach LaVine (linked in trade proposals), and D'Angelo Russell — while anonymous scouts warn about spacing and defensive fit with Giannis and Bam and about Thompson’s reduced playmaking and defense.
- The situation remains fluid and driven by buyout and trade developments, so the next steps to protect roster balance and spacing will depend on how the market unfolds before training camp.