Did Draymond's Contract Prevent the Warriors from Signing Klay After Buyout?

Correction: This article originally stated that by putting the Warriors over the first apron, Green's contract killed their chances to sign Thompson. According to cap guru Yossi Gozlan, a team over the first apron can't sign a bought-out player during the season who was making over $15 million but can sign said player during the offseason. That means the Warriors could have signed Thompson with a veteran minimum contract once he was bought out.

I was among those who originally believed the Golden State Warriors couldn't legally sign Klay Thompson after he agreed to a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

There is an NBA rule that says any team over the first apron can't sign a player who was set to make more than the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $15 million.

Thompson was set to make $17.5 million.

But that rule only applies to players bought out during the season.

The Heat are set to sign Thompson once he clears waivers to a two-year, nearly $13 million deal with a player option for the second season, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

Had Thompson been bought out during the season, the Warriors would have had no chance at him.

Re-signing Draymond Green to a one-year, $27.7 million contract to go over the first apron did not prevent them from getting Thompson, but it will prevent them from going after expensive players bought out during the season.

What the Warriors Could Have Done to Give Themselves Full Buyout Market Range During the Season

As I wrote here, the Dubs could have negotiated a multiyear deal with Green that kept his current salary low enough to keep them under the first apron but also gave him more total money than the $27.7 million player option he declined.

His first-year salary would have had to be just under $14 million. A three-year contract worth about $42 million would have done the trick.

Perhaps the Warriors did explore something like this and Green said he wanted the big one-year deal instead.

Regardless of what happened, the Dubs chose not to be in position for any expensive buyout player during the season.

Heat Could Be Thompson's Last Landing Spot

The Heat are a great potential last landing spot for Thompson.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo leading the way, the Heat have more paint-scoring potential than most teams. Opponents will be forced to pack the paint, leaving open good looks for shooters.

Thompson should return to making 40-plus percent of his three-point shots like he did each of the first eight years of his career.

It's possible Thompson will decline his 2027-28 player option and look to join the Warriors to run it back with Stephen Curry one more time.

But if the Heat have a strong season and benefit from Thompson's shooting gravity as much Thompson benefits from the rim pressure of Giannis and Bam, you'd think he'd rather stay in Miami than head back to the Bay.

Nothing will stop Thompson from signing a one-day contract with the Warriors when he's ready to retire. But a successful 2026-27 season in Miami could stop Thompson from trying to play another full season with the Dubs.

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