Although Maxi Kleber only briefly suited up for the Lakers, he still has value both on and off the court.
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we continue with a look at Maxi Kleber.
Despite joining the Lakers in February, the team and its fans have not properly been introduced to Maxi Kleber.
Due to a near season-ending injury, Kleber came to the Lakers injured and spent the majority of his time, save for the final game of the postseason, on the sidelines.
While what Kleber can offer the Lakers remains a mystery, the combination of his past play and salary could help him end up being more than just a throw-in.
How did he play?
He didn’t, at least not really.
After joining the Lakers along with Dončić and Markieff Morris, Kleber missed the remainder of the regular season rehabbing his broken foot. All indications were that the 33-year-old wouldn’t hit the court again until next year. That was until his number was inauspiciously called in the playoffs.
With the Lakers facing elimination at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their series, JJ Redick surprisingly turned to Kleber for a spark. His brief five-minute stint went as well as you’d expect from a player who missed considerable time. Rough.
In fairness, it was a tough position for Kleber to be in. Beyond his first action coming in a playoff setting against a physical and athletic Timberwolves squad, Kleber was also surrounded by new teammates and a new city.
He is getting older and has been injury-bitten throughout his career, but the small sample should not be seen as indicative of his potential impact next season.
What is his contract situation moving forward?
Kleber is entering the final year of the $33 million contract he initially signed with the Mavericks back in 2022.
With an expiring base salary of just $11 million for this upcoming season, expect to hear Kleber’s name in most trade machinations. If no deal transpires, Kleber will join five other Lakers who could become unrestricted free agents by next summer.
Should he be back?
Barring a trade in the offseason, Kleber should be back for a variety of reasons. His relationship with Dončić on and off the court is chief among them.
Cohesion and chemistry can only be earned through time. This is something the duo has after playing seven seasons together in Dallas. As one of the few remaining ties to the Mavericks that Dončić has left in the locker room, the Lakers’ front office may heavily weigh the interpersonal value Kleber offers, especially if Dončić goes to bat for him.
Kleber can also prove to be a helpful puzzle piece in the team’s lineup configurations. While the Lakers’ desire to upgrade at center is warranted and paramount, they still would benefit from maintaining versatility in the frontcourt, which includes solidifying their small-ball groups. With experience playing both the four and five, Kleber could be a useful plug-and-play big when the matchups warrant it.
This year’s playoffs have been a perfect example of why having various looks is critical. The Lakers learned firsthand the challenges of having only one card to play.
Between his spacing, connectivity on offense and competitiveness, Kleber has proven to be an effective role player on several competitive teams. Even if his flaws are apparent, his skillset and size could be valuable additions to a roster in need of optionality.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.