Klay Thompson signed a two-year deal with the Miami Heat after clearing waivers Sunday afternoon in Miami. The contract is worth about $11.5 million, with the second season at Thompson’s option. The Heat added him to boost shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Thompson’s move follows a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks after a two-year run that fell short of expectations.
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson handles the ball during an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Dallas, March 18. AP-Yonhap
MIAMI — Klay Thompson has signed his deal with the Miami Heat, who waited patiently for weeks to see if they would get the chance to add the sharpshooter to their reworked roster.
Thompson — who is No. 4 on the NBA's all-time 3-pointers made list — cleared waivers Sunday afternoon and wasted little time finalizing a two-year deal worth about $11.5 million. The second season of the deal is at Thompson's option.
The deal makes sense in many ways for both sides. Thompson makes no secret about how much he loves the water and boating; the Heat play their home games at the edge of Biscayne Bay. He's of Bahamian heritage; the island nation is a short flight from Miami and is home to a sizable base of Heat fans. And, perhaps most importantly, the Heat knew they wanted to add shooting to surround the newly acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and incumbent center Bam Adebayo.
