For weeks, the Miami Heat was linked to veteran stars DeMar DeRozan and Klay Thompson. On the same day, both former All-Star found new homes.
Thompson reached a buyout agreement with Dallas Mavericks and immediately intended to sign a contract with the Miami Heat. Shortly after the news broke, it was announced that DeRozan, who was waived by the Sacramento Kings in July, agreed to a one-year $3.9 million deal with the Denver Nuggets.
After LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency, the Heat pivoted to Thompson and DeRozan, making Thompson the priority. Seeking to add elite shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, the Heat saw Thompson as the perfect player to target even though he still had one year remaining on his contract with the Mavs.
Why DeMar DeRozan and Miami Heat Said No to One Another
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 03: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
In the end, both sides looked away from one another. According to Sun Sentinel Heat reporter Ira Winderman, one reason DeRozan may have dismissed the Heat after it welcomed Thompson was the belief that Thompson would occupy the team’s final starting spot.
“I would start Klay Thompson, believe the Heat will start Klay, and believe that played into Klay’s interest in the Heat,” Winderman wrote in a subscriber-only Q&A. “In fact, among the reasons that DeMar DeRozan turned away from the Heat might have been the writing on the wall that Klay would take that final Heat starting spot. The greater issue with Klay is whether he will play as a closer. In that regard, figure on a bunch of offense-defense maneuvering, with Klay on the court late when the Heat are playing from behind, but perhaps Pelle Larsson the closer when a defender is needed at shooting guard.”
In the end, the Heat’s confidence that it would land Thompson explained why the team didn’t aggressively pursue DeRozan, a six-time All-Star.
“A source has told The Miami Herald for weeks that there was mutual interest between the parties,” a Miami Herald report stated. “And a deal is now expected, after Thompson informed the Mavericks that he wants to play for a contender and Dallas agreed to a buyout. Inside the Heat, there has been optimism that Thompson would end up with the team, which is among the reasons that Miami has bypassed Bradley Beal and DeMar DeRozan in free agency.”
Miami’s Aim Was to Add Shooting, Didn’t Like DeRozan’s Fit
Speaking on Five Reason Sports’ YouTube channel, Heat insider Ethan Skolnick revealed that Miami wasn’t confident in the role it could offer DeRozan.
“I’ve been saying that although the Heat like DeMar and they have flirted with DeMar many times over the years, they didn’t think that there was a role for him now that would make sense to him at this point that he would be happy with. That was the primary reason I heard why they were not more aggressive.”
Then again, the Heat was all about adding another shooter. Thompson was clearly the favorite over DeRozan in that regard.
“As weeks were going (by) and he was out there and even after the LeBron thing fell apart — which the Heat thought they were getting LeBron — even after that they didn’t go sign DeMar right away because their thing was we’ve got (Andrew) Wiggins, we’ve (Pelle) Larson, we’ve got Tim Hardaway Jr. and we’re probably gonna get a shooter from Dallas.”
It remains to be seen whether the Heat insert Thompson into the starting lineup. But one thing is for sure. Miami has plenty of quality 3-point shooters on its roster.
Report: Miami Heat Learn Why DeMar DeRozan Chose Nuggets Over Them