Klay Thompson's perimeter game what Miami Heat need | D'Angelo

The Miami Heat are not getting the Klay Thompson who once scored 37 points in a quarter.

Miami is not getting the Klay Thompson who set the NBA record of 14 3-pointers in a game, and did it in just 27 minutes. Or the five-time all-star who averaged more than 20 points per game for seven consecutive seasons.

But the Heat are getting a piece they desperately need. One that, at 36 years old, still could be the difference in a handful of games, but one that is not going to go off for 11 3s in a quarter like he did in the 2016 Western Conference Final against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Klay Thompson's career will be defined by his long-range shooting. He was an elite 3-point shooter who created his shots by his energy, always moving and coming off screens.

Thompson is fourth all-time with 2,899 3s and played all but two of his 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors and the greatest 3-point shooter of all time, Stephen Curry. The two formed the "Splash Brothers," and were part of four title teams.

And in a league that has increasingly become reliant on 3-point shooting with about 43% of the league's shots coming from behind the circle, Miami needs a player like Thompson. He may not be the man who regularly shot better than 40% from deep in his prime — topping out at 44% in 2017-18 — but he still hit .387 of this 3s his last two years in Dallas while averaging just under 13 points and 25 minutes per game.

The Heat were in the middle of the pack a year ago, finishing 15th in 3s attempted and made. And that was with Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez and Norman Powell. That trio is gone, either via trade or free agency, and other than adding Tim Hardaway Jr., the Heat were in need of another deep threat.

Thompson has made more than 200 3-pointers in a season 11 times in his career. Last season, Powell led the Heat with 156 3s.

Miami became more of a low-post team when it added Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade with Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo give Miami one of the best — if not the best — interior duos in the league.

But that enhanced the need for more weapons on the perimeter and Thompson was the best remaining option, especially at $11.5 million for two years. Thompson initiated a buyout with the Mavericks and cleared waivers August 23 before the signing was official. He has an option for the second year.

Surely it helped that Thompson, the son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, is of Bahamian ancestry, the island nation that can take as little as 30 minutes to reach by plane from Miami depending on your destination.

"Klay is one of the most iconic players to ever suit up in the NBA,” Heat President Pat Riley said. “A four-time battle tested World Champion who will fit perfectly into his role as an all-around player at both ends of the court.

"We all talk about his shooting skill, but there is so much more he brings to the game."

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Thompson is a relentless defender. That movement and energy on offense translates to defense. He has been in the all-defense discussion most of his career and was named second team All-Defense in 2019.

Thompson's career can be split into two parts … pre and post injuries. He missed more than two seasons after tearing his left ACL in June 2019 and right Achilles in November 2020. His former coach, Steve Kerr, said the player who returned midway through the 2021-22 season was not the same.

"From 2014–19, pre-injury, Klay was unflappable," Kerr said two years ago after Thompson left the Warriors. "He rarely required much maintenance from me as a coach. He was just so happy playing and playing at a high level. I would check in with him and he was always fine and loving life. That changed after the two injuries.

"He's struggled to try to get himself back to that level. Even though I think he played really well at times for us over the last few years and obviously helped us win a championship (in 2022) … he was still a really high-level player. In his own mind and I think in the minds of everyone watching, he wasn't the same guy as he was prior to the injuries. And Klay really struggled with that."

After starting all 72 games with the Mavs two years ago, Thompson was used primarily off the bench last season. His minutes dipped from about 27 to 22 a game and his scoring dropped from 14.0 to 11.7.

For the first time in his career, Thompson shot under 40% (.393) from the field in 2025-26.

Now, it's up to the Heat to find the best way to maximize Thompson's abilities.

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Klay Thompson's perimeter game what Miami Heat need | D'Angelo