The Dallas Mavericks have reached an agreement with Klay Thompson on a contract buyout, concluding a two-year period marred by the unexpected trade of Luka Doncic. Thompson is set to join the Miami Heat after clearing waivers, as per a reliable source familiar with the plans of the five-time All-Star. The disclosure was made under anonymity on Friday by the individual, who spoke to The Associated Press.
During Thompson’s tenure with the Mavericks, the team failed to make the playoffs in both seasons following Doncic’s lead to the NBA Finals in 2024. Thompson came to Dallas through a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors, providing the team with a legendary 3-point shooter to complement Doncic and another high-scoring guard, Kyrie Irving.
However, the promising trio’s prospects were shattered after the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in 2025. Subsequently, Irving suffered a left knee ACL tear, keeping him off the court since then. Davis was later traded to the Washington Wizards before the trade deadline last season.
The franchise’s trajectory was significantly impacted by the Doncic trade, despite Dallas defying the odds by winning the draft lottery shortly after. With the first overall pick, the Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg from Duke University, who went on to win Rookie of the Year, injecting new optimism into the team.
Flagg’s addition led to Thompson coming off the bench for most games for the first time since his rookie season with the Warriors. Thompson’s buyout marks a major overhaul of the Dallas roster, with only five players remaining from two years ago, alongside new front office members and a new head coach replacing Jason Kidd.
Thompson, a four-time NBA champion with the Warriors, spent 13 seasons with Golden State before joining Dallas. The 36-year-old averaged 12.9 points and a 39% 3-point shooting percentage during his Mavericks tenure, with career averages of 19.6 points per game and a 41% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc.
In January, Thompson surpassed Damian Lillard to claim the fourth spot on the all-time career 3-point list, amassing 2,899 3-pointers, trailing only Curry, Harden, and Allen. While Thompson made the playoffs in all but two seasons with the Warriors, he matched that tally in his brief stint with Dallas.
Ujiri, the president of basketball operations for the Mavericks, expressed gratitude for Thompson’s contributions to the team, acknowledging his status as a standout player and competitor of his generation. Thompson’s departure from Dallas signifies a new chapter for both the player and the franchise.