For weeks, the Heat had been waiting on Klay Thompson. It was not the type of pursuit that typically defines an offseason in the National Basketball Association (NBA), with no blockbuster trade to announce and no dramatic negotiation to dissect. Instead, they waited for circumstances to change with the Mavericks, betting that the four-time champion, their target, would eventually become available. And the patience eventually paid off. After the blue and silver bought out the final year of his contract, he signed a two-year deal worth $13 million with them. The move is significant not because he is still the player who once scored 60 points in 29 minutes or made 14 three-pointers in a game, but because they have assembled a roster in which what remains of his greatest skill could become particularly valuable.
Thompson joins the Heat after a season in which he averaged 11.7 points and shot 38.3% from three-point range. The numbers are a long way from those he put up in his prime, but they remain useful when placed in the context of what they need. He has canned more than 200 treys in a season 11 times and is fourth on the NBA’s all-time three-point list, making him a valuable addition to their roster. The attraction is obvious. Giannis Antetokounmpo demands defensive attention because of his ability to attack the rim, while Bam Adebayo can punish smaller lineups and operate from the perimeter. Surrounding them with a shooter who does not need the ball to remain dangerous creates the kind of spacing that they will need when matches become more difficult. He does not have to carry the offense. He simply has to make defenses pay for concentrating on everyone else.
Which is why the comparison to Ray Allen is more meaningful than it might initially appear. The Heat envision Thompson to play a role similar to Allen’s during the LeBron James era: reduced offensive responsibilities, an emphasis on catch-and-shoot opportunities, and the expectation that his experience would become increasingly vital in the postseason. It is an acknowledgement that title teams are not always constructed by collecting players at the height of their powers. Sometimes they are assembled by identifying what a veteran still does exceptionally well and putting him in circumstances where he does not have to compensate for what he can no longer contribute. His defensive mobility has diminished with age and injuries, but they have the personnel to protect him. Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins can take on difficult assignments, allowing him to conserve energy for the other end.
Equally significant is the direction Pat Riley has taken the Heat. Their acquisition of Antetokounmpo was a transformational move, but it also created a very specific roster-building problem: How do you surround a superstar whose greatest weapon is his capacity to collapse defenses? They have responded with shooting and experience. They acquired Bobby Portis, added Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Thompson, giving Heat coach Erik Spoelstra multiple players capable of stretching the floor. The cost of acquiring their foundational piece was considerable, with Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez, Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, and multiple first-round picks going to the Bucks in exchange. They now have less depth, but considerably more top-end talent. And the trade-off is easier to justify when the objective is no longer simply to make the playoffs, but to challenge for a championship.
Still, Thompson does not automatically make the Heat championship contenders. They finished 43-39 last season, and the addition of one aging shooter cannot resolve every structural weakness. Much will depend on Antetokounmpo’s transition into their system, Adebayo’s continued development, Wiggins’ consistency, and their collective health. His role will also require them to stay grounded. They should not expect the Warriors’ version of Klay to burn rubber for them. What they can reasonably consider is a proven shooter who understands movement, spacing, and the pressure of postseason basketball. Thusly, their offseason has followed a familiar Riley principle: acquire the star, then build intelligently around his strengths. Whether the formula nets them the Larry O’Brien Trophy remains uncertain, but with him now in place, they have at least made the shape of their ambition considerably clearer.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.