After securing a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, Klay Thompson wants nothing more than to relive his former glory from the Golden State Warriors by playing a major role on a contending Miami Heat team.
However, as much as Thompson now gets a major opportunity, there are alternative rotation options for head coach Erik Spoelsta which could lead to limited minutes for the veteran sharpshooter.
Heat rotation could block Klay Thompson from major role
The Heat not only added another notable sharpshooter in Tim Hardaway Jr. at the start of free agency, but former second-round pick Pelle Larsson is coming off a career-best year where he made 54 starts and averaged over 26 minutes last season.
According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, there's a strong chance Larsson plays more than Thompson and is part of closing lineups for Spoelstra on some nights.
...Expect Pelle to be in closing lineups when the Heat are playing from the lead," Winderman wrote. It could be quite likely that Pelle averages more minutes per game than either Klay Thompson or Tim Hardaway Jr., no matter where Pelle is listed positionally. He’ll play plenty."
While there's a good chance that Thompson resumes a starting role after being relegated to the bench in Dallas last season, the 36-year-old has reached a point in his career where he's no longer a guaranteed 25-minute per game player or assured of a spot in closing lineups.
During his prime years with Golden State, Thompson didn't have to worry about an off shooting night forcing him off the floor. His elite defense meant he was always going to be part of closing lineups, but he's understandably no longer the same impactful piece on that side of the floor after his back-to-back devastating leg injuries.
Klay Thompson will faces challenges at the Heat
As much as Thompson will be excited by the chance in front of him at the Heat, it won't all be smooth sailing for the five-time All-Star as he navigates a third team in the past four seasons. Will Thompson be comfortable when he's not part of closing lineups, or when he's playing less than 20 minutes?
The silver lining is that winning often cures all, and Miami are likely to be a strong playoff contender after acquiring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. It will be much easier for Thompson to accept a lesser role on a good team, as opposed to playing a career-low 21.7 minutes with a Mavericks team that finished 12th in the Western Conference last season.
Regardless, Thompson's transition from star to role player isn't an easy adjustment, and will bring new challenges to the four-time NBA champion as he seeks to break a three-year personal playoff drought.
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