Miami Heat wing Klay Thompson is already helping out his new team before even playing a game. Thompson reportedly signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract. That's $1.5 million less than the veteran wing was originally reported as getting from Miami.

Thompson's deal with the Heat is set to start at $5.6 million for the 2026-27 season. That's crucial, because that leaves Miami roughly $5.2 million under their first-apron hard cap. With one-year veteran minimum contracts coming in at just under $2.5 million for the upcoming season, the Heat now have room to fill their roster to full 15 players on standard contracts.

Had Thompson come in at the originally reported $13 million figured, the Heat would have only been able to sign one more player to a standard deal using the minimum exception. Miami may still choose to leave the 15th spot open, as many teams do early in the season. But when the Heat do sign a 15th player, they'll have no issue fitting that signing in, as well as having a bit of extra wiggle room left over.