The Dallas Mavericks have largely revamped their roster for next season, but they still have some offseason business to take care of. They currently have 16 players under contract next season and have an unbalanced roster. Not only do they have to cut down to 15 players before the season, but they would also like to thin the crowded frontcourt to add more backcourt depth.
Regardless of whether they make any more trades, one move seems inevitable: parting ways with Klay Thompson and sending him to the Miami Heat, who now have Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 36-year-old sharpshooter is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him $17.4 million next season. After missing the playoffs in back-to-back years with the Mavs, Thompson would like to spend the dawn of his career on a team with postseason aspirations. The rebuilding Mavs don't have much use for the four-time NBA champ at this stage of his career.
All signs point to Klay Thompson heading to the Miami Heat
The problem is that it's difficult to trade Thompson thanks to his salary. This isn't necessarily because it's a horrible contract, but more so because matching salaries in a deal will be challenging. It's not like the Mavericks are going to get anything of value in return. Therefore, a contract buyout is the most likely scenario here.
This way, the Mavs could save some money for next season, and Thompson could sign with a contender. In fact, where he is headed after the inevitable buyout may already be decided.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that Thompson-to-Heat is essentially a done deal once the contract buyout is done. Jackson wrote that the Heat chose Thompson over Bradley Beal, who just re-signed with the Clippers last week. He even added that the Heat are saving their bi-annual exception worth $5.5 million for next season for Thompson. Apparently, DeMar DeRozan is looking for that same amount from Miami, but the Heat are saving it for the Mavs shooting guard.
This makes sense for both the Heat and Thompson. Miami desperately needs more shooting around the Antetokounmpo-Bam Adebayo pairing. Klay is clearly not the player he once was defensively, but he can still shoot the lights out. There may not be a better duo to make up for his defensive deficiencies on the other end, either. This would allow Thompson to play meaningful basketball in the final years of his career.
Dallas spent the summer trying to find a new home for Thompson. The Los Angeles Lakers are in the mix due to family ties and the fact that L.A. tried to get him two years ago.
Now that it's clear a trade isn't possible, it's only a matter of time before we hear about a contract buyout and a new Heat deal for Klay.
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