Overview
- Thompson was officially introduced as a Miami Heat player Tuesday and will wear jersey No. 11.
- He negotiated a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, giving up roughly $9.8 million, then cleared waivers and signed a reported two-year, $11.5 million contract with Miami.
- The Heat and coach Erik Spoelstra expect Thompson to be a low-usage, catch-and-shoot specialist who spaces the floor for Giannis and Bam.
- Thompson framed the season as a 'redemption season' and compared Giannis’s impact to past MVP teammates while teammates and analysts warned against expecting his pre-injury scoring role.
- The move fills Miami’s biggest offseason need for perimeter shooting but tightens the roster and payroll as the Heat keep two standard-contract slots open and limited cap flexibility.