Heat linked to $319M ex-Giannis Antetokounmpo teammate, 2x NBA champion after Klay Thompson deal

The Miami Heat have played the waiting game after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade to start the summer. When free agency arrived, they had their sights set on Klay Thompson, no matter how long it took to get him.

Thompson had been negotiating with the Dallas Mavericks about his future, and finally, on Friday, the two sides agreed to a contract buyout.

“Thompson, 36, was due to make $17.5 million in the final season of his contract with the Mavericks, who announced his buyout Friday afternoon. He played two seasons for the Mavericks, averaging 12.9 points per game and shooting 38.7% from 3-point range. Thompson passed Damian Lillard last season to rank fourth in career 3-pointers made," ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote.

On Sunday night, the four-time NBA champion officially signed his deal with the Heat.

“The Heat on Sunday could celebrate not only the addition of five-time All-Star guard Klay Thompson, but also the fact that the organization emerged from the transaction with more flexibility than some might have expected. Because Thompson agreed to a first year salary of $5.6 million, that left the Heat with the ability to fill both the 14th and 15th roster spots," Miami Herald's Barry Jackson wrote.

Miami has built its roster beautifully for the upcoming season, and the team still has some flexibility to add another piece. Former NBA player Jeff Teague recently warned that veteran Jrue Holiday could potentially end up in Miami if he receives a buyout.

“What I told y’all!? I told y’all the Heat was going to be better than the 76ers. We got a squad boy…. Don’t let Jrue Holiday get a buyout and have him go to Miami,” Teague said.

This would be a wild offseason for Miami if the team were able to sign Holiday, who could provide valuable depth at point guard. He could potentially start or come off the bench, giving the Heat another experienced veteran capable of making an impact on both ends of the floor.

Holiday has made $319 million throughout his career. Miami is already looking like a difficult team to beat this season, but adding another NBA champion to the roster would certainly make the Heat even more dangerous.

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