The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Maxi Kleber in the Luka Doncic trade and have been unable to keep him healthy. He missed the final 35 regular-season games and first four playoff contests recovering from a foot injury. Head coach JJ Redick shockingly played him five minutes in LA’s final game against the Timberwolves. It was a showing of faith, but Kleber has been unable to take full advantage.
He is currently out with an oblique strain. It is the latest in a string of injuries, and the nightmare reality is setting in. The Mavs were fine letting a stretch big man go because he can’t stay healthy anymore.
Things are not suddenly getting better for the 33-year-old. Kleber played in 37, 43, and 34 games in the last three seasons because of injuries. He will miss at least the first eight contests to begin this season, and this is his second injury already. Kleber was limited to one preseason game by a quad issue. He just cannot stay on the floor.
Maxi Kleber already looks finished in the early days of the regular season
Kleber is in his ninth NBA season, and fans have seen his health trend downward for years. He hasn’t played more than 59 games in a season since 2020 and has settled into a 20-minute per game role for the last two years. The 6’10 forward can stretch the floor and defend multiple positions, but only when he’s healthy enough to play.
He is making $11 million this season in the final year of his contract, and the Lakers should look to trade him before the deadline. Kleber has been teammates with Luka Doncic since the Slovenian superstar entered the NBA in 2018, but the Lakers want to compete for championships.
They are just $1.1 million under the first apron, where LA is hard-capped. The Lakers' path to serious contention is turning Kleber’s expiring dollars into a productive role player that helps them win in the playoffs.
The franchise cannot count on Kleber. He has had foot, quad, and oblique injuries since joining the franchise eight months ago. That does count the numerous problems that have sidelined him in recent years, including several soft tissue injuries. Father Time is undefeated, and it has unfortunately caught up to Kleber. Nobody wants to admit it, but the 33-year-old is nearing the end of his career. He just can’t stay healthy.
Nobody wants to see it end this way, but the Los Angeles Lakers need to maximize their roster. Expect to hear Maxi Kleber’s name in trade rumors before the deadline. General manager Rob Pelinka promised to be aggressive in building around Luka Doncic. Fans hope the front office has another trick up their sleeve, but only time will tell the tale.