NBA Rumors: The Team Klay Thompson is Linked to
With the arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat has immediately become a strong title contender, and they could still add a few more renowned pieces.
Klay Thompson's time with the Dallas Mavericks may be coming to an end. The veteran shooting guard is among the players with options to leave during this offseason, either through a trade or even via a buyout, as the Texan franchise continues to plan for the future.
In this scenario, the Miami Heat have emerged as one of the teams most interested in acquiring his services.
Miami seeks more outside threat to surround Giannis
The Florida franchise aims to strengthen its shooting ability to build a competitive team around their new star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, after firmly committing to this current season. In that context, Thompson fits the profile Miami is seeking and would bring experience and a rich history of success to the locker room.
According to journalist Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald, the former Golden State Warriors player has become one of the top choices for the Heat to bolster their roster.
Thompson, who for years formed one of the most successful backcourts in the NBA alongside Stephen Curry, boasts a career 3-point shooting percentage of 40.9%. However, his offensive numbers declined last season to 11.7 points per game. At 36 years old, he accepted a reserve role for the first time in his 13 seasons in the league and played an average of 21.7 minutes per game, the lowest figure of his career.
Heat's interest not dependent on LeBron's decision
Miami is also working to try and bring LeBron James on board during free agency. However, Barry Jackson asserts that the interest in Klay Thompson remains regardless of whether the franchise manages to secure the star.
Nevertheless, the journalist warns that the availability of the shooting guard is not guaranteed.
“The question is whether Thompson will manage to leave the Mavericks, either through a contract buyout or a trade,” Jackson points out.
Additionally, he notes that Dallas is well below the luxury tax threshold, so there is no special financial incentive to part ways with the player, who is set to earn 17.5 million dollars in the final year of his three-year contract, unless he were willing to accept a significant pay cut within a buyout agreement.
Dallas prioritizes a trade
For now, the preferred option for the Mavericks is to finalize a trade, according to information from journalist Marc Stein.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: El equipo para el que suena Klay Thompson