Masai Ujiri's Mavericks keep subtracting age and adding roster clarity. Friday's buyout of Klay Thompson is the latest line on that spreadsheet.
Dallas and Thompson agreed to a contract buyout Friday, according to the Associated Press, ESPN, the Dallas Morning News, and USA TODAY Sports. Thompson was due $17.5 million in 2026-27, the final season of his three-year deal. He has not cleared waivers.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported he plans a two-year, nearly $13 million Heat contract with a second-year player option after he does. The AP said a person familiar with his plans expects a Miami signing, possibly as early as Sunday if he goes unclaimed.
Front office, coach, and the 15-man sheet
The Dallas Morning News tied the timing to the new basketball hierarchy: Ujiri as president of basketball operations, Mike Schmitz as general manager, and Dusty May as head coach replacing Jason Kidd.
The buyout, the Morning News reported, lets the Mavericks enter next month's training camp with 15 players on standard contracts — the league maximum into the regular season — and leaves Irving (34) and Caleb Martin (31) as the only remaining players 30 or older.
Ujiri's prepared statement, carried by the AP, ESPN, and the Morning News, said: "Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization." The Morning News and ESPN also quoted the respect-and-well-wishes close.
Schmitz, speaking on Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket after the announcement, told the Morning News he was thankful for Thompson's contributions and declined to discuss whether Dallas wanted him to pick his next team: "I don't want to get into too much of the nitty-gritty with internal conversations and all that."
Why the veteran asked out
ESPN reported that Thompson informed the Mavericks — 26-56 a year ago — that he wanted a contender, and that the buyout followed that request. The same ESPN story said Miami made him a top target after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
