Klay Thompson Signs With Miami Heat: Four-Time NBA Champion Is Coming to the 305

Klay Thompson is officially taking his talents to South Beach.

The Miami Heat have signed the four-time NBA champion and five-time All-Star after Thompson reached a contract buyout with the Dallas Mavericks and cleared waivers.

The 36-year-old sharpshooter reportedly agreed to a two-year deal worth about $11.5 million, with a player option for the second season.

And Miami’s roster suddenly looks very different.

Klay Thompson Joins a New-Look Miami Heat Roster

Thompson will join Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and the rest of a revamped Heat roster heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.

Miami acquired Antetokounmpo earlier this offseason in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, making Thompson’s elite outside shooting an especially interesting addition.

With Giannis and Bam drawing attention around the paint, Thompson gives Miami another major threat from beyond the three-point line.
Heat president Pat Riley called Thompson one of the NBA’s most iconic players and praised both his championship experience and his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor.

Why Did Klay Thompson Choose Miami?

For Thompson, the move wasn’t only about money.

After being introduced by the Heat, Thompson said the chance to compete for another championship was a major reason he chose Miami.

He reportedly left roughly $10 million on the table in his Mavericks buyout for the opportunity to join the Heat.

Thompson also said Miami’s notoriously demanding “Heat Culture” was part of what attracted him to the team.

There are some personal connections to South Florida, too. Thompson’s father, former NBA player Mychal Thompson, played high school basketball at Miami Jackson, and Klay has family ties to the nearby Bahamas.

And considering Thompson’s very public love of boating and the water, living next to Biscayne Bay probably won’t hurt either.