What happened: The Dallas Mavericks reached a buyout agreement with Thompson, making him an unrestricted free agent. Miami had pursued shooting help through the buyout route rather than a trade.

Why it matters: That path preserves players and draft capital that a trade might cost. The expected addition addresses Miami’s offseason search for shooting.

What to watch: Waiver clearance is the remaining procedural step. Contract terms will determine how Miami completes the deal.