fortworthweekly.news cast Friday's buyout as contender shopping: Klay Thompson told Dallas he wanted a title chase, then the sides ended his contract.
ESPN reported that the buyout was initiated after Thompson informed the Mavericks — coming off a 26-56 season — that he wanted to play for a contender. The same ESPN account said the Miami Heat made Thompson their top target after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Dallas still owed him $17.5 million for 2026-27 (ESPN, Dallas Morning News, USA TODAY Sports).
The buyout was announced Friday afternoon.
The reported Heat framework
ESPN's Shams Charania wrote that Thompson plans to sign a two-year, nearly $13 million deal with Miami after clearing waivers, with a player option in the second season. The Associated Press, citing a person familiar with his plans, said he intends to sign with the Heat once he clears waivers and may be able to sign as early as Sunday if no club claims him.
Celina coverage should treat those lines as sourced intent, not as a finished free-agent signing.
What Dallas said on the record
Masai Ujiri's statement, printed by the AP, ESPN, and the Dallas Morning News, called Thompson one of the great players and competitors of his generation and said the organization is grateful. Mike Schmitz, on 1310 The Ticket, told the Morning News he was thankful and would not detail internal talks about Thompson's next team.
The Morning News also noted Dallas will take 15 standard contracts into September camp.