Heat hold edge over Lakers in Klay Thompson chase as ‘immediate starter’ next to Giannis Antetokounmpo

Klay Thompson’s future is heating up as the offseason clock winds down. The Miami Heat have emerged as the frontrunner for the four-time champion, but the path still runs through Dallas.

Now Thompson is entering the final year of his contract with the Mavericks, and the situation could break in a few different directions before training camp opens, depending on how patient both sides remain over the next several weeks.

Klay Thompson needs to secure a buyout to make Heat move possible

Thompson is owed roughly $17.5 million in the final year of his Mavericks contract, and Dallas has shown little urgency to move him for nothing. The team has preferred trade talks over a buyout since the offseason began. Thompson, 36, is coming off a season with career lows in points, rebounds and assists in reduced minutes, though his three-point shooting has remained a strength at close to 38 percent.

This week, NBA insider Evan Sidery reported that the Heat are the favorites to acquire Thompson if he secures a buyout from the Mavericks, noting that "Miami can offer Thompson significantly more financially on a 1-year deal compared to the Lakers." The two factors at the heart of it are the buyout materializing and Miami's clear financial edge on a short-term deal.

ESPN's Shams Charania has previously reported that Thompson is firmly at the top of Miami's wish list. Speaking on NBA Today, Charania said: "Sources tell me Klay is the Heat's number one priority right now to acquire. They want shooting. That is the priority… and Klay Thompson is at the top of their list. Be it trade or buyout, he has one year left on his deal with the Dallas Mavericks."

Miami has held back roughly $7 million in mid-level exception money specifically to make a competitive offer if Thompson becomes available.

Dallas, meanwhile, has shown little interest in trade packages built around players like Miami's Nikola Jovic or the Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt. The Mavericks have not been eager to finalize a buyout while other teams remain interested. A buyout would likely require Thompson to give up a meaningful portion of his remaining salary to make the move financially workable for both sides.

Lakers also remain firmly in the mix for Thompson

Miami is not the only team monitoring the situation closely. Reports have pointed to social media activity fueling speculation about a Heat reunion possibility for Thompson, even as the Lakers continue to push for a deal of their own.

Los Angeles has its own ties to Thompson, who spent part of his childhood there and still owns a home in the area. Miami has also been linked to other perimeter shooters as it continues building around Giannis Antetokounmpo, giving the Heat multiple paths to address their wing depth. Both Miami and Los Angeles would likely offer Thompson an immediate starting role, a factor his camp is expected to weigh heavily in any final decision. Dallas is unlikely to rush a decision with more than two months left before the season begins.

For now, Thompson remains a Maverick, with his camp and the front office continuing to monitor how the trade market develops before turning to a possible buyout. Thompson has said he would welcome a return to Los Angeles, where his father Mychal Thompson also played, but has not ruled out other destinations if the right opportunity comes together first. The situation is expected to stay fluid deep into the offseason.

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