The Dallas Mavericks and Klay Thompson have reached an agreement on a contract buyout, marking the end of a two-year period marked by the unexpected trade of Luka Doncic. Thompson is set to join the Miami Heat once he clears waivers, as confirmed by a source familiar with the plans of the five-time All-Star. The buyout announcement follows two playoff misses by the Mavericks during Thompson’s time, which followed Doncic leading Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024.
Thompson came to Dallas in a sign-and-trade deal with Golden State, providing the Mavericks with a renowned 3-point shooter to complement Doncic and another high-scoring guard in Kyrie Irving. However, the promising trio’s prospects were shattered after the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, who had a history of injuries, before the 2025 trade deadline. Irving suffered a left knee ACL tear a month later and has been sidelined since, while Davis was later traded to the Washington Wizards.
The trade involving Doncic had a significant impact on the franchise, though Dallas managed to win the draft lottery not long after. With the top overall pick, the Mavericks selected Duke standout freshman Cooper Flagg, who went on to win Rookie of the Year, injecting new hope into the team. Flagg’s addition led to Thompson primarily coming off the bench for the first time since his rookie year with Golden State.
Thompson’s buyout is part of a substantial overhaul of the Dallas roster. His departure leaves only five players from two years ago, alongside new leadership in president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri, general manager Mike Schmitz, and head coach Dusty May, who replaced Jason Kidd.
Thompson, a four-time NBA champion with the Warriors alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, spent his first 13 seasons with Golden State. Despite missing seasons due to knee and Achilles injuries, the five-time All-Star averaged 12.9 points and a 39% 3-point shooting percentage during his time with the Mavericks. Throughout his career, Thompson has averaged 19.6 points per game and a 41% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc.
In January, Thompson surpassed Damian Lillard to claim the fourth spot on the career 3-pointers list with 2,899, trailing Curry, James Harden, and Ray Allen. While he only missed the playoffs twice in his 11 seasons with the Warriors, Thompson matched that number during his two seasons in Dallas.
“Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are thankful for his contributions to the Mavericks organization,” Ujiri acknowledged. “We have immense respect for Klay and all his accomplishments throughout his career.”
Additionally, DeMar DeRozan has agreed to a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets, worth the veteran minimum of $3.9 million US, as per a knowledgeable source. This move marks DeRozan’s fifth team in his 18th season, as the six-time All-Star seeks his first championship. The addition of DeRozan bolsters the Nuggets’ backcourt experience after a trade involving young wing Peyton Watson. Watson, who started 40 games last season and showed improvements in various stats, was sent to Cleveland in a four-team deal.
DeRozan, initially drafted by Toronto in 2009, spent nine seasons with the Raptors before being traded to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard. The 37-year-old then had stints with the Spurs, Chicago, and Sacramento, experiencing sign-and-trade transactions in his moves to the Bulls and Kings. DeRozan averaged 18.4 points last season, concluding a streak of 12 years of averaging over 20 points per game, with limited playoff success in recent years.
