MIAMI — While Bradley Beal has removed himself from the NBA free-agent market, another potential Miami Heat target appears to remain in lockstep with the Heat’s immediate goals.
During a Twitch stream, Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson stressed that, at 36, win-now mode is the current priority.
Thompson, who is under contract at $17.5 million this season on the final year of his contract, has been linked to Heat interest in the case of a potential buyout, with a trade also remaining an option.
“I want to compete for a championship,” Thompson said in an interview with PlaqueBoyMax, the rapper, producer and streamer. “Not necessarily win one, but just like have the chance to go and try and get another one.”
The Heat moved into such a mode with last month’s acquisition of forward Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.
As part of that trade, however, the Heat also gave up considerable 3-point shooting, most notably the outside stroke of Tyler Herro. Thompson is considered a potential answer in that regard.
“I want to play a role on a team that I want to make a deep playoff run, whether it’s this season or next season,” Thompson said. “But that’s really my only goal.”
The Mavericks, who continue to build behind the youth of 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, are not expected to contend in the Western Conference this season.
The Heat, who stand with roughly $10 million of space under the hard cap created by the Antetokounmpo trade, are positioned to potentially make up a significant amount of salary that Thompson would have to leave on the table with a Mavericks buyout.
With the Mavericks yet to indicate an inclination for a Thompson buyout, another option for the Heat regarding Thompson would be a trade of forward Nikola Jovic, although the Heat do not appear inclined to move in such a direction. Jovic this coming season begins a four-year, $62.4 million extension, coming off a lackluster 2025-26.
Thompson also has been linked to potential interest by the Los Angeles Lakers, where his father, Mychal Thompson played, currently serving as a broadcast analyst for the team.
The Heat’s options to add shooting and scoring were reduced on Thursday, when Beal agreed to a two-year, $13.2 million contract to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, after initially testing free agency.
The Heat have to fill two spots on their standard roster to meet NBA requirements, currently with 12 players under standard contract. The Heat’s roster was thinned with Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis going out in the deal that landed Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. from the Bucks, and with Norman Powell leaving for the Chicago Bulls in free agency.
In addition to their 12 players under standard deals, the Heat also have center Vlad Goldin and guard Tre Donaldson under two-way contracts, able to add a third such player below the NBA limit.
Teams are allowed to carry a maximum of 21 players during the offseason.
The Heat open training camp Sept. 29.
G League tryout
The Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce will host a local tryout Sept. 27 at Kaseya Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Applicants for the local player tryout must meet NBA G League eligibility requirements and complete all required registration and waiver forms prior to participating. Details and forms for the $200 registration fee can be obtained at tryout@skyforceonline.com Participants must be at least 18.