Former four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson, is on the move once again, as the shooting guard agreed to a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks to join the Miami Heat for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The Warriors were previously in the hunt to have a reunion with Thompson if he was bought out, as the star himself had expressed interest in playing in Golden State alongside Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr before his career came to an end.
However, that is no longer the case, as Thompson is headed to Miami, the team always thought of as the leader in the clubhouse to land his services, with the Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers down the list.
Warriors Lose Out On Klay Thompson After Buyout
GettyOAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 13: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Toronto Raptors in the first half during Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
ESPN’s Shams Charania announced the news of Thompson’s tenure with the Mavericks ending through a buyout and his new move to the Heat.
“BREAKING: Klay Thompson is expected to sign with the Miami Heat after he clears waivers upon a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Thompson and the Mavericks navigated a buyout from his $17.5 million expiring salary after the four-time NBA champion made it clear to Dallas that he wanted to play for a contender,” he wrote in a separate post. “The Heat made one of the NBA’s all-time greatest shooters their top free agent priority this summer to surround Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo and waited nearly two months on his release.”
While Thompson did say he wanted to go to a contender, there was always the thought of him going back to the Warriors as a realistic possibility.
Reporting on his future before the buyout, NBA insider Brett Siegel didn’t see it as impossible for Thompson to go back to where he spent the first part of his career.
“As far as a potential return to the Warriors goes, team sources say Thompson would be welcomed back to the organization with open arms if he were to secure a buyout and become a free agent. Down the line, it’s possible Klay will reunite with Steph Curry and Draymond Green to ride off into the sunset and retire with the franchise he won four championships with,” Siegel wrote, before then making an accurate prediction.
“But as of this moment, it’s highly unlikely Klay will return to the Dubs before the 2026-27 season.”
It appears Thompson has mended his relationship with Golden State, but he’s not headed back to the Bay Area after a contract buyout with the Mavericks.
Golden State Misses Out On Another Star This Offseason
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after scoring on a three-point shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Chase Center on January 09, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Thompson now joins a list of NBA stars who were previously linked to a move to Golden State, but none of them ever happened. The two other huge names mentioned in rumors were LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but both chose against joining Curry and the Warriors.
It’s clear that Golden State’s dynasty is coming to an end, but there was hope another big star could come in to help Curry and the franchise at one more chance at a fifth NBA title.
Thompson wasn’t expected to be the difference-maker in a championship push, but having him back in town would have been the storybook ending all Warriors fans were hoping for.
Still, at age 36, Thompson could have a few more years left in the league. It’s unknown how long he’ll stay with the Miami Heat, so there’s still a chance he ends his career where it began in Golden State, hopefully alongside Curry, Green, and Kerr as well, but that remains to be seen.
Warriors Offseason Goes From Bad To Worse After Klay Thompson Buyout Decision