Klay Thompson Could Be Exactly the Shooter Miami's New-Look Offence Needs

Lean Edge Thoughts...

Klay Thompson is no longer the player who helped turn Golden State into a dynasty.

Miami does not need him to be.

At 36, Thompson's role has changed. He is not being brought in to become a primary scorer, chase opposing point guards around the perimeter for 35 minutes or recreate the peak version of the Splash Brothers.

Miami needs one particular part of his game more than anything else.

Shooting.

The Heat's decision to build around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo creates an obvious offensive challenge.

Both are at their most dangerous around the basket.

Giannis puts enormous pressure on a defence by attacking the paint, while Adebayo operates effectively as a screener, passer and interior scorer.

Surrounding that frontcourt with enough shooting is essential.

That is where Thompson becomes interesting.

Even during a reduced role in Dallas last season, he still made 202 three-pointers and converted 38.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Defenders still respect him.

That matters almost as much as the shots he actually makes.

Leaving Thompson unattended to send another defender towards Giannis is a dangerous choice. Staying attached to Thompson creates more space for Giannis to attack.

That relationship could make Thompson valuable without requiring him to dominate the ball.

He does not need isolation possessions.

He does not need a high usage rate.

He can relocate around the perimeter, work off screens and punish defensive attention directed elsewhere.

For a roster containing Giannis and Adebayo, that is an extremely useful skill set.

There is also another reason Miami should appeal to Thompson.

Winning.

His two seasons in Dallas did not develop as anyone expected.

Thompson originally joined a Mavericks team built around Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving after Dallas had reached the NBA Finals.

Then Dončić was traded.

Irving suffered a major knee injury.

Dallas eventually shifted towards a younger roster built around Cooper Flagg, and Thompson found himself coming off the bench for much of last season.

The original reason for joining the Mavericks had effectively disappeared.

Miami gives him another opportunity to play meaningful basketball on a team with championship ambitions.

Thompson has already made clear that was important to him, reportedly sacrificing money in his Dallas buyout to make the move possible.

There are still limitations.

The Heat cannot expect the same defender Thompson was before the serious knee and Achilles injuries that cost him two full seasons.

Miami will also have to decide how much he can contribute defensively in its strongest closing line-ups.

But that is easier to accept when the contract is worth approximately $11.5 million rather than superstar money.

Miami is paying for a specialist who happens to be one of the greatest specialists the league has ever seen.

And even in decline, that speciality remains valuable.

Thompson enters the season fourth on the NBA's all-time list for made three-pointers and only 74 behind Ray Allen for third.

There is something rather fitting about the possibility of him passing a former Heat champion while wearing a Miami uniform.

But the historical milestone is secondary.

The important number for Miami will be how much space Thompson can create for Giannis.

LEAN EDGE VERDICT: Klay Thompson does not need to become vintage Klay Thompson for this signing to work. Miami needs defenders to think twice before collapsing on Giannis Antetokounmpo, and few players carry Thompson's reputation from behind the arc. He still made more than 200 threes last season despite a reduced role. At roughly $11.5 million over two years, Miami has added a proven shooter whose greatest remaining strength happens to address one of the clearest requirements of its new roster.