Heat Have ‘Strong Interest’ In Mavericks’ Klay Thompson
The Heat have “strong interest” in Mavericks guard/forward Klay Thompson, Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald report.
According to Jackson and Chiang, Miami is interesting in adding Thompson to its roster irrespective of whether or not LeBron James decides to return for a second stint with the Heat.
As Jackson and Chiang detail, the Heat are looking to add another wing shooter and scorer with size after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Listed at 6’5″ and 220 pounds, Thompson is one of the most prolific — and accurate — three-point shooters in NBA history, ranking fourth on the all-time made threes list.
The 36-year-old appeared in 69 games last season for Dallas, averaging career lows of 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 21.7 minutes per contest. While the four-time champion’s three-point percentage (38.3%) was well above the league average (36.0%), it represented a career low for Thompson, who also posted career-worst marks on twos (41.8%) and from the field (39.3%).
Thompson ending up in Miami is far from a fait accompli, per Jackson and Chiang. The former lottery pick (11th overall in 2011) is owed about $17.5MM next season on an expiring deal, and unless he’s willing to give up some of that money in buyout with the Mavs, the Heat may not be able to acquire him.
Marc Stein reported about a month ago that Dallas was open to trading Thompson and reiterated last week that the team would rather deal him than negotiate a buyout, according to The Miami Herald.
“To this point as much has been relayed to me is the Mavs’ preference would be a trade,” Stein said. “I think it’s still early enough in the summer that if you’re the Mavs you would exhaust those options first.”
While sending Nikola Jovic to Dallas for Thompson would satisfy salary-matching requirements, the Mavs probably aren’t eager to take on the $62.4MM the Serbian forward is owed over the next four years, Jackson and Chiang note, especially since he’s coming off a down season.
Here are a few more Heat-related rumors from Jackson and Chiang:
- Although the Heat had a “preliminary discussion” with Bradley Beal‘s agent, they haven’t been actively trying to sign the veteran guard, according to Jackson and Chiang. Beal, who was limited to just six games played in 2025/26 due to a hip injury, remains an unrestricted free agent after declining his $5.6MM player option at the end of June.
- Jackson and Chiang suggest multiple teams pursuing James view DeMar DeRozan as a potential plan B, and write that if the 41-year-old joins another team, there’s a “real possibility” the Heat could sign DeRozan, a six-time All-Star who was recently waived by Sacramento.
- Following up on a report from Stefan Bondy of The New York Post indicating Russell Westbrook is a candidate to sign with the Heat if they miss out on LeBron, Jackson and Chiang say that can’t be ruled out but add that Miami hasn’t been “aggressively pursuing” the nine-time All-Star point guard.
Mavericks, Clippers Have Explored Kawhi Leonard Trade
Kawhi Leonard‘s future in Los Angeles continues to be one of the most popular subjects of speculation entering free agency. While the Clippers are said to be fielding calls rather than actively shopping the star wing, several teams, including the Raptors, have reportedly been in discussions about possible trades.
The Mavericks are another team to add to that of group of Leonard suitors, according to Christian Clark, Dan Woike, and Sam Amick of The Athletic, who say the Mavs and Clippers have discussed a deal that could send the two-time champion to Dallas.
The package proposed by Dallas would include P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, and draft picks going to L.A. to facilitate a reunion between Leonard and Mavs president Masai Ujiri, who traded for Leonard during his time with the Raptors, a decision that led to the franchise’s first and only championship.
The Mavs don’t have a ton of draft capital at the moment, which limits what they could offer Los Angeles. Ujiri has also spoken about his desire to build a sustainable, future-facing roster around franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg. However, the allure of adding Leonard to a roster that features Flagg and star point guard Kyrie Irving could be hard to resist if the two teams can agree on a price point.
Leonard will turn 35 on Monday, but he’s coming off his best scoring season as a pro. He averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game in 2025/26, with an excellent shooting line of .505/.387/.892. More importantly, he played 65 games this season, only the second time he’s hit that number since the 2016/17 season.
A Leonard/Irving duo would have undeniable injury concerns, but if the team were able to acquire the star forward without giving up too many long-term assets, the risk could be worth the sizable potential reward.
Stein’s Latest: Irving, Mavs Vets, Brown, Murphy
The Mavericks have been receiving trade calls for Kyrie Irving but have reportedly stood firm in their stance that the star point guard is not available, Marc Stein writes in the latest story for The Stein Line (subscriber link).
New Mavs president Masai Ujiri has stated from the beginning of his tenure with the team that he hopes to see Irving and franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg play together, despite the sizable age gap between them.
The Pistons and Timberwolves are two teams known to have interest in the 34-year-old’s services, while the Rockets have not inquired after him despite some speculation that they’d be a suitor, Stein reports.
Irving is coming off a missed season due to an ACL tear and is still under contract in Dallas for two more seasons. It appears that Ujiri wants to get a sense of how he can help Flagg’s development before determining whether to deal him.
We have more from Stein’s newsletter:
- While the Mavericks are signaling their lack of interest in dealing Irving, some of their other veterans may be more available. Stein writes that Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford are all players the team is seen as more open to the possibility of moving, with Thompson standing out as a clear candidate to be moved, given his expiring contract.
- After previous reports from the Stein Line indicated which teams were most active in pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stein adds that there is interest around the league in whether a robust market could form for a third team to take on Jaylen Brown in a deal that would send the Bucks star to the Celtics. The Trail Blazers, Rockets, and Hawks have all been rumored to have interest in Brown, but his contract makes it somewhat difficult to find good fits from a salary-matching perspective.
- Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III remains one of the most sought-after names on the trade market, with Stein describing the interest for him around the league as “intense.” The Pistons and Pacers are two teams that have reportedly registered their interest. As of yet, the trade discussions have all been initiated by other teams rather than the Pelicans offering him in deals. However, Stein notes that this is the first time that the Joe Dumars-led front office has been willing to entertain offers.
Mavericks Notes: Irving, Finances, Marshall, Lively, Thompson
In the latest step in his recovery from a torn ACL that forced him to miss the entire season, Kyrie Irving put his skills on display Tuesday at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina, according to BasketNews. The Mavericks guard offered advice and motivation to the top 100 high school players in the United States, then gave some of them a chance to face him one-on-one in the Can You Guard Kyrie Challenge (Twitter video link from NBA Central).
The team hasn’t provided an official update on Irving’s status, but he was reportedly impressive in his battles with the high school stars. Irving said recently on social media that he’s nearly 100% recovered.
“This mission is bigger than just the basketball court,” he told the players. “I pray that you guys understand that you have a chance to change your life with the game of basketball, to utilize it as a vehicle to take you around the world, to meet different people, gain insight, gain knowledge. Last year, I had a very traumatic injury, tore my ACL. And just to be back out here in front of you guys, it’s just an honor. I don’t take for granted, man, it’s been a long year, mentally, emotionally, something – when something that you love gets taken away from you for a temporary moment, that really defines you.”
There’s more on the Mavericks:
- Dallas didn’t get much value in terms of players by trading Anthony Davis to Washington, but unloading his $58.5MM salary for next season puts the team in much better financial shape, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron states in his offseason preview. The Mavs currently have 13 players under contract for 2026/27 with a total commitment of $161.8MM. They are comfortably below both aprons and roughly $38MM away from the luxury tax line. They also created a $20.8MM trade exception in the Davis deal that enables them to acquire someone for up to $21MM. In addition, Dallas has access to the $15MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception as well as the $5.5MM bi-annual exception. Gozlan notes that using that space to take on unwanted salary from other teams could be an easy way to restock the Mavericks’ future draft assets.
- One of the team’s most important offseason decisions will be whether to extend Naji Marshall, who will become eligible for a new deal on July 6, Gozlan adds. Marshall should attract plenty of trade interest with an expiring $9.4MM contract, but the Mavs have indicated that they want to keep him as part of their future. Gozlan projects a new deal in the range of the MLE at around $45MM over three years, which is low enough to avoid creating a six-month trade restriction.
- Dereck Lively II will also be extension-eligible, Gozlan notes, but the Mavericks are unlikely go that route since injuries have caused him to miss 121 games over the past two seasons. Gozlan expects that the new front office will want to watch Lively for a year before making a decision.
- Gozlan also suggests that 36-year-old Klay Thompson might become a buyout candidate whether he stays in Dallas or gets traded. Thompson will have a $17.5MM expiring contract and isn’t in the situation he expected when he signed with the Mavs to team up with Luka Doncic on a contender. Gozlan points out that Dallas could take back up to $26.5MM in a Thompson deal.
Mavericks Notes: Thompson, Flagg, Nembhard, Offseason
The Mavericks wrapped up their second straight non-playoff season Sunday night, and Klay Thompson‘s time with the organization may be nearing an end, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News writes in a subscriber-only piece. Thompson has one season remaining at nearly $17.5MM on the three-year contract he signed when he decided to leave Golden State in the summer of 2024, but he’s no longer an obvious fit on a rebuilding team.
The Mavs were coming off an NBA Finals appearance when Thompson made his free agent decision, and he was looking forward to continuing that success by teaming up with Luka Doncic. The shocking Doncic trade last season and the subsequent emergence of rookie Cooper Flagg as the franchise centerpiece may result in the 36-year-old Thompson being traded to a contending team this summer.
“I’m not sure,” Thompson responded Sunday when asked if he expects to still be with the Mavericks next season. “I’m under contract so I do, but I’ve definitely learned in my time in Dallas that things can change on a dime.”
Curtis notes that Thompson remained productive this season, averaging 11.7 PPG in 69 games, mostly in a reserve role, while shooting 38.3% from three-point range. He hit four-three pointers in Sunday’s win over Chicago, giving him more than 200 in a season for the 11th time in his career.
Thompson’s future won’t be decided until Dallas hires its next general manager, but he’s happy to still be playing no matter where he winds up.
“I have been very grateful to be here and to make it through the season healthy,” Thompson said. “I know my years are numbered going forward so every night in an NBA jersey, I take full advantage of it.”
There’s more from Dallas:
- Flagg’s remarkable rookie season ended early on Sunday when he was forced out of the game with an ankle injury late in the first quarter, Curtis adds in a separate story. Flagg scored 10 points in 10 minutes before departing and averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the year. He’s expected to finish first or second in a tight Rookie of the Year race with Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and he’s done it at a high level with a smile,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He enjoys the game. He wants to win. He’s a great teammate. He’s a great player to coach. … We’re seeing a historic rookie season. It’s fan appreciation night. We have the best fans, but we also have one of the best players in the world present at the age of 19 and the future.”
- Rookie point guard Ryan Nembhard, who had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal last month, also looks like part of the future in Dallas. He closed out the season with 23 assists on Sunday, setting a new franchise record for a regulation-length (ie. non-overtime) contest, according to the Mavericks (Twitter link). The Mavs hold a $2.2MM team option on Nembhard for next season.
- Dallas gained a lot of financial flexibility by trading Anthony Davis to Washington in February, Bobby Marks of ESPN states in his offseason wrapup. The Mavericks won’t have cap space this summer, but by escaping the apron they’ll be able to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and the bi-annual exception. They’re currently about $38MM away from the luxury tax and $45MM below the first apron. Marks points to Dereck Lively II, Max Christie and Naji Marshall as extension candidates for the summer.
Celtics Notes: Tatum, Thompson, White, Vucevic
After making an emotional season debut Friday night in Boston where fans celebrated his return 10 months after Achilles surgery, Jayson Tatum was relieved to get back to a normal environment Sunday at Cleveland, writes Jay King of The Athletic. Tatum remained on a minutes restriction, but he scored 20 points as the Celtics posted an emphatic win in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders.
“The other day was such a big deal, and obviously, in a home game in the city of Boston, I had a lot of family in town,” Tatum said. “Today just kind of felt like getting back in the flow of things. And that felt good for me.”
Tatum scored 12 points in the first seven minutes to help Boston build an early lead. Although he missed seven of his nine three-point attempts, he sank a clutch one with about two minutes left to play to stave off a Cleveland comeback. King notes that the Celtics were already playing well without Tatum – holding the league’s best defensive rating and second-best net rating – and have won the two games since his return by an average of 15.5 points.
“I don’t think his game has gone anywhere,” Payton Pritchard said. “I’ve seen him working on it. I think it’s more now, after not playing in a while, you’ve just got to get your flow back. Like, one-on-one reads, stuff like that.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- After Friday’s win over the Mavericks, Klay Thompson offered some advice to Tatum, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe states in a subscriber-only piece. Thompson has plenty of experience in overcoming major injuries after suffering an ACL tear during the 2019 Finals and a ruptured Achilles tendon the following year. “One of his messages was like, ‘Man, just give yourself some grace,’” Tatum said Sunday. “He said that he wished he would have given himself more grace. Obviously, being elite athletes and competitors that we are, we want it so bad. But I’m still on the road to recovery and this is just a phase of it.”
- Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson views Derrick White as a major reason that the Celtics were able to remain competitive during Tatum’s absence, per Brian Robb of MassLive. “Derrick White, he’s a top-five player in this league,” Atkinson said. “I know no one says that in the standard media, but analytically, you look at all the advanced stuff, he’s (a) top-five player in the league, superstar. Jaylen [Brown] is obviously having a great year. [Neemias] Queta is analytically one of the top 30, probably. They have a lot of talent even without Jayson. So I think if you just kind of look, ‘Oh my gosh, Jayson Tatum’s out, they’re going to be terrible,’ I never bought into that.”
- Speaking to reporters on Sunday, coach Joe Mazzulla shared his advice for Nikola Vucevic, who will be sidelined for about a month with a fractured finger, relays Souichi Terada of MassLive. “Just stay in shape,” Mazzulla said. “Do everything he can with whatever the limitations are. He does a great job in the film room studying. Just continuing to do what he’s been doing. He’s a professional.”
All-Star Notes: Richardson, Curry, Brown, Johnson
Jase Richardson says that he’s okay after suffering a bad fall while representing the Magic for the 2026 Dunk Contest.
“I’m good,” he said, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. “I tried to go do a little 360 off the side of the glass, (but) my arm got caught on the side of the backboard.”
Richardson was eliminated in the first round after his backup dunk was given a 43.4 composite score.
“After taking a fall like that, I just had to move on from that dunk,” Richardson said. “It is what it is.”
Richardson took to social media after the contest to share a clip of how he intended the uncompleted dunk to look (Twitter video link).
Richardson had turned to his father, two-time Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson, to help with his preparation for the event, Kurt Helin writes for NBC Sports, though Jase resisted wearing his father’s jersey during the event, wanting to forge his own path, according to Beede.
“I just wanted to do the contest and try to make it my own thing instead of everything having to do with my father,” the younger Richardson said.
We have more from around the All-Star festivities:
- Stephen Curry would like to return to the three-point contest next season, writes Taylor Wirth for NBC Sports, especially after Damian Lillard won for a third time this year — the Warriors star only has two three-point championships to his name. “I already scheduled it,” Curry said. “We’re going to bring some people: Me, Dame, I’m going to try and get Klay [Thompson].”
- Jaylen Brown is one player in favor of bringing a 1-on-1 competition to All-Star weekend, per ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill (via Twitter). “I’m actually a big fan,” the Celtics‘ All-Star said. “It’s the purity of the game. I would love to challenge some people here. Like Luka [Doncic], Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], Donovan [Mitchell]. We could donate to charity. Set it up.” The idea of a 1-on-1 tournament has been a popular discussion topic this weekend following the success of the women’s league Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament, which was won by Aces guard Chelsea Gray.
- Keshad Johnson‘s journey from undrafted player to slam dunk contest champion for the Heat has given him a sense of gratitude, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I beat the odds. I made it. I made it into the NBA,” he said. “I dreamed of every year I was watching the NBA dunk contest, I dreamed of being out there, putting on a show for everybody… I learned from all the people that came before me, paying homage to them, and now I’m here.” Johnson said he was just excited to be able to introduce himself to the wider basketball world, both as a dunker and as a person. “Now they know who I am,” he said.
Trade Rumors: AD, Mavs, Bridges, Sabonis, Pistons, More
In their initial trade discussions with teams earlier this season about big man Anthony Davis, the Mavericks were seeking multiple first-round picks or an impact player, sources tell ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. However, there were no takers at that price, even prior to Davis’ most recent injury, a hand issue that will keep him sidelined through the deadline.
While a pre-deadline Davis deal is no longer considered likely, it’s not impossible, Windhorst writes — but it would almost certainly require Dallas to drop its asking price and settle for perhaps one solid asset, plus matching salary. With no urgency to make a move right now, it probably makes more sense for the Mavs to wait until the offseason to make a decision on the 32-year-old.
Rival teams anticipate that Dallas will pursue trades involving other players in an effort to reduce their team salary for 2026/27, Tim Bontemps of ESPN says within the same story. Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and D’Angelo Russell are among the Mavs’ trade candidates who have guaranteed salaries or (in Russell’s case) a player option for next season. Turning any of them into a player – or players – with expiring salary could help the Mavs manage their cap situation for next season, reducing the need to move off Davis’ maximum-salary contract, Bontemps observes.
Here are a few more of the latest trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Hornets forward Miles Bridges likely won’t be moved at the trade deadline, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. Amick reported in January that Bridges was drawing legitimate trade interest from a handful of teams, but Charlotte has been in a roll since then, registering seven consecutive wins and moving within one game of a play-in spot. A league source tells The Athletic that the forward – for whom the Hornets were reportedly seeking at least one first-round pick – is “highly likely” to remain in Charlotte.
- In their discussions about Domantas Sabonis, the Kings have explored three-for-one or four-for-one frameworks with the Raptors, according to James Ham of The Kings Beat, who suggests such a package would start with forward RJ Barrett and may include players like Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick. Sacramento would also want rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, but he’s someone Toronto would “fight to hold onto,” Ham adds. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter video link) has also heard that Barrett and Agbaji have come up in the Sabonis talks between the Raptors and Kings.
- Checking in on the Pistons‘ approach to the trade deadline, Hunter Patterson of the Athletic suggests the team seems unlikely to make any major moves and hasn’t engaged in discussions involving veteran forward Tobias Harris, whom head coach J.B. Bickerstaff refers to as his “security blanket.” Detroit will be opportunistic if a favorable deal arises and still has a $14MM trade exception available, but that exception doesn’t expire until July 7, so the team could end up hanging onto it until the offseason, Patterson writes.
- Following up on a HoopsHype report that suggested the Sixers were among the team to express exploratory interest in Celtics forward/center Chris Boucher, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required) says a source downplayed Philadelphia’s interest, despite Boucher’s connection to 76ers head coach Nick Nurse.
Mavs Rumors: AD, Russell, Marshall, Christie, Dirk, GM
Within a story about the one-year anniversary of the shocking Luka Doncic trade, Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) shares several rumors related to the Mavericks.
According to Stein’s sources, the Mavs “continue to welcome” trade inquiries on Anthony Davis in advance of the February 5 deadline. That said, Stein hears Dallas doesn’t feel pressure to deal Davis and is ready to keep him on the roster into the offseason, and Davis seems to prefer that outcome as well.
The 32-year-old big man is currently recovering from ligament damage in his left hand. He has been limited to just 29 games with Dallas since the team acquired him last February, Stein notes.
Here’s more from Stein on the Mavs:
- While the team remains open to trading Davis, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell, Dallas’ front office “does not want” to move Naji Marshall or Max Christie, Stein reports.
- Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on Saturday that the Bucks showed some interest in Russell. Stein has heard that as well, but the details are a little different. Scotto wrote that the Bucks were likely seeking second-round draft compensation to take on Russell’s contract — he makes $5.7MM this season, with a $6MM player option for 2026/27. Stein clarifies that the Bucks initiated those talks, which occurred before they began listening to offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Citing league sources, Stein writes that Milwaukee’s interest in Russell was contingent on the veteran guard declining that player option for next season in favor of re-signing with the Bucks on a minimum-salary deal in the summer. Russell wasn’t interested in that scenario, per Stein.
- Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki has had an “open dialogue” with governor Patrick Dumont since the spring and the team “badly wants” its all-time leading scorer to return to the franchise in “any role he chooses,” according to Stein. However, Nowitzki’s current focus is on his work as a studio analyst for Prime Video and his job as a FIBA board member and global ambassador, Stein writes.
- While Dumont wants to find someone with experience to become the Mavs’ new head of basketball operations, not much else is known about the types of candidates he’s looking for. Echoing previous reporting from The Athletic, Stein hears the search process likely won’t pick up steam until the spring, but the team intends to fill the position prior to June’s draft. Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are currently operating as the team’s co-interim general managers.
Mavericks Notes: Christie, Thompson, Williams, Martin
Max Christie returned to action on Saturday and helped spark a Mavericks victory, writes Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com. The 22-year-old guard had missed Dallas’ previous two games because of an illness that has impacted multiple players, Sefko notes.
Christie finished with 22 points (on 7-of-13) shooting, four assists, two rebounds and two steals and was plus-29 in 26 minutes during Saturday’s 18-point win over Utah.
“He’s one of our best shooters and most athletic guys, so offensively, he helps us there,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “But we missed him on the defensive end, too. To get him back from illness is good.
“He just competes (defensively). He’s one of those guys who can go both ways. He can have an impact on defense, too.”
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- Guard/forward Klay Thompson passed Damian Lillard for fourth place on the NBA’s all-time made three-pointers list on Thursday and reached another milestone on Saturday, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Thompson, who scored 23 points (on 7-of-11 shooting) in 20 minutes, eclipsed 17,000 career points during the victory. “It’s been awesome, especially when I shoot the ball well and we win. What a nice combo,” Thompson said of his historic week.
- Backup guard Brandon Williams, who will be a free agent in the offseason, had another productive game, Curtis adds. The 27-year-old finished with 22 points (on 8-of-13 shooting), five assists, four rebounds and two steals and was plus-30 in 28 minutes.
- While his contributions were fairly modest on Saturday (six rebounds, five assists, three points in 21 minutes), veteran wing Caleb Martin was coming off his best two-game stretch as a Maverick, averaging 14.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.5 APG and 3.0 SPG while shooting 83.3% on twos and 60% on threes, Curtis writes in another story. The 30-year-old was slowed by a hip injury for several months, but he says he’s feeling much healthier now compared to the start of the season. “Just thinking less. Feeling better,” said Martin, who has started the past two games in place of Cooper Flagg (sprained ankle). “Just trying to get as much rhythm as I can. … I’m one of the guys who tries to impact as much as I can as quick as I possibly can. It’s not always going to be an offensive mindset first coming into the game so just trying to let the game come to me.”