The Miami Heat have added much needed shooting with the acquisition of Klay Thompson in recent days, but they'll quickly learn the Golden State Warriors legend is no longer the defender he once was.
Thompson will be valuable for the Heat as still one of the best and most dangerous shooters in the league, yet how Miami cover for him defensively will be fascinating as the veteran sharpshooter prepares for a major role on a contending team in the Eastern Conference.
Heat about to learn Klay Thompson lesson Warriors already know
The fact is that Thompson understandably hasn't been the same level of defender he was prior to his two devastating leg injuries. There's no shame in that, but it has reduced his effectiveness after being one of the best 3-and-D guards in league history.
Thompson is no longer suited to being much of a perimeter defender. In fact, his best defensive quality might be using his length and sturdy frame in post matchups where he doesn't have to rely on as much lateral movement.
The Warriors and Mavericks have both learnt this throughout his respective periods with each team following his return from injury. After recording a 110.0 defensive rating upon his return in the 2021-22 season, that number has progressively gotten worse in each of the last four years. Thompson also hasn't recorded a positive box plus-minus since the 2021-22 season, largely owing to a consistently negative defensive box plus-minus.
Thompson will be a big part of Miami's infrastructure because of his 3-point shooting, but it's the defense that may be the difference between the 36-year-old averaging more than 25 minutes per game or less than 20.
Heat perfectly suited to covering for Klay Thompson's defensive issues
The good news for Thompson and Miami is that the roster is already perfectly suited to cover for some of his defensive limitations. He doesn't need to be the primary point-of-attack defender he once was, with those responsibilities lying with former Warrior teammate Andrew Wiggins along with Davion Mitchell.
Then, on the back end, the Heat should have arguably the best defensive four-five combination in the league with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. If Thompson is the fifth player in the starting lineup with that aforementioned quartet, Miami should still have no issues being an elite defensive team.
Still, there are going to be moments where Thompson's defense becomes problematic, where Erik Spoelsta may have to pull him in a big situation, or where certain matchups call for limited minutes. That's the reality of where Thompson is at in his career, but shouldn't take away from this signing being a valuable one.
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