Klay Thompson reshapes Heat spacing as Miami pushes the pace

Klay Thompson’s first appearance in a Miami Heat uniform didn’t include a point on the scoreboard, but it offered a clear look at why the team targeted him in free agency. In Saturday’s preseason outing, the veteran shooter consistently drew a dedicated defender, effectively turning possessions into four-on-four elsewhere on the floor around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Thompson’s gravity unlocks space for Antetokounmpo

Head coach Erik Spoelstra noted that Thompson’s defender stayed attached to him, opening clean looks for Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell whenever extra help swarmed Antetokounmpo. The new franchise cornerstone acknowledged how much easier the game becomes with an elite shooter stretching the defence, pointing out that opponents can no longer simply stack the paint in front of him.

Thompson arrived in Miami after negotiating a buyout from the Dallas Mavericks, where the organization shifted toward a rebuild during his time there. He has said he values the relationships he built in Dallas but is energized by returning to a team with clear championship goals. He has also praised the Heat’s young core for its commitment in the offseason, impressed by how early many of them reported to work on conditioning and skill development.

The move to South Florida also turns the page on a testy exchange between Thompson and current teammate Myron Gardner from last November, when Thompson was still with the Mavericks. Gardner taunted him from the Heat bench during that game, but assistant coach Caron Butler walked the young forward over to Dallas’ side afterward so he could smooth things over. Butler later framed it as a learning moment about respecting veteran greats, and the two players can now joke about the incident as teammates.

Heat double down on fast-paced offence

Team-wide, Miami appears committed to maintaining the faster style that defined last season. After jumping from 27th in pace in 2024/25 to first in 2025/26, the Heat are again leaning into a free-flowing, up-tempo system during the 2026 preseason. Antetokounmpo admitted he is still adjusting to how quickly the team wants to play but expressed confidence that the approach will lead to a steady supply of easy scoring chances and high point totals, as long as the defence holds up.

The combination of Thompson’s shooting gravity on the perimeter, Antetokounmpo’s downhill pressure and a higher tempo could define Miami’s offensive identity early in the regular season. With more spacing and constant movement, players like Adebayo, Wiggins and Mitchell should regularly find openings created by the extra attention star teammates attract.

Norris Cole builds coaching résumé with Miami

Alongside the on-court changes, a familiar name is back in the organization. Former Heat guard Norris Cole, now an assistant coach with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, has been embedded with Miami’s camp before G League training camp begins in a few weeks. Spoelstra has welcomed his presence, highlighting the same work ethic, competitiveness and attention to detail that marked Cole’s playing days and calling Sioux Falls an important entry point for staff who want to build a coaching career.