The Miami Heat have continued their blockbuster offseason, adding a four-time NBA champion to an already stacked core featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo as their championship push gathers even more momentum.
Elsewhere, a Western Conference powerhouse has landed a six-time All-Star for just $3.9 million in another major win-now move, while Giannis has made a stunning admission about his future and revealed plans for an eventual return to where his NBA career began.
Catch up on all the latest moves, signings and whispers from around the league in NBA Daily!
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KLAY JOINS LOADED HEAT
The Miami Heat have added even more championship pedigree to their new-look roster, with four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson agreeing to join the Eastern Conference contenders.
Thompson cleared waivers on Sunday before agreeing to a two-year, $11.5 million deal with Miami, according to The Athletic.
The second season of the contract is reportedly a player option, while the deal also includes a 15 per cent trade kicker.
The move comes after Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks agreed to a contract buyout, allowing the 36-year-old sharpshooter to hit the open market and pursue another championship.
He now lands in South Beach alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo as Miami continues its aggressive push to build a roster capable of challenging for the NBA title.
Thompson brings enormous championship experience to the Heat after winning four NBA titles during his decorated tenure with the Golden State Warriors.
A five-time All-Star and one of the greatest three-point shooters in NBA history, Thompson also provides Miami with another major perimeter threat to help space the floor around Antetokounmpo and Adebayo.
Thompson averaged 11.7 points last season while shooting 38.3 per cent from three-point range across 69 appearances for Dallas.
While he is no longer the player who helped form the Warriors dynasty alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Thompson’s shooting and big-game experience gives Miami another proven veteran as the Heat load up for a championship push.
After already landing Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster offseason move, Miami has now added a four-time champion to a core featuring Giannis and Adebayo as its dramatic roster overhaul continues.
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GIANNIS DROPS RETURN BOMBSHELL…
Giannis Antetokounmpo may have only just arrived in Miami, but the two-time MVP is already looking beyond his time in South Beach and eyeing a stunning return to where it all began.
After spending the first 13 seasons of his NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo made the blockbuster move to the Miami Heat this offseason as he begins the next chapter of his career.
But much like LeBron James eventually returned to Cleveland after leaving for Miami, Giannis has revealed he plans to one day complete his own homecoming.
Speaking on the AnesTea Podcast, the 31-year-old made it clear Milwaukee remains close to his heart and admitted he wants to return to the Bucks once his time with the Heat comes to an end.
“It will always be in my heart, and, luckily, when I finish this cycle with Miami, which I don’t know when it will end,” Giannis said.
“And if, I will definitely return to Milwaukee, and I don’t know if they want me then.“
It’s a stunning admission from Antetokounmpo so soon after his departure from the franchise where he established himself as one of the greatest players of his generation.
Across 13 seasons in Milwaukee, Giannis delivered the Bucks their first NBA championship in 50 years, claimed two MVP awards and was named Finals MVP after his historic performance in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Now his attention turns to chasing another championship in Miami, where he will form a formidable frontcourt partnership with Bam Adebayo as the Heat attempt to build another title contender.
Miami hasn’t lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy since James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh led the franchise to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
Giannis will hope to change that before potentially following another part of James’ career path and eventually returning home to Milwaukee.
NUGGETS LAND SIX-TIME ALL-STAR
The Denver Nuggets have responded to the loss of Peyton Watson by adding some serious firepower, landing six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan on a bargain deal.
DeRozan has agreed to join the Nuggets on a one-year, $3.9 million contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, giving Nikola Jokic another proven scorer as Denver looks to return to championship contention.
The 37-year-old is expected to provide a major boost to Denver’s second unit, with Christian Braun likely to retain his place in the starting five and DeRozan taking on a leading role off the bench.
Despite entering the latter stages of his career, DeRozan remains an accomplished scorer, averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds across 77 games last season.
And the opportunity to finally chase an elusive NBA championship appears to have played a major role in his decision.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, DeRozan has been in conversations with Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon and is eager for the opportunity to play for a genuine contender.
The move gives Denver another veteran shot creator and one of the league’s most accomplished clutch scorers, providing another option when Jokic and Murray head to the bench or when the Nuggets need someone capable of creating his own offence late in games.
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