After defeating the Toronto Raptors 125-118 in nail-biting fashion, the Dallas Mavericks have extended their win streak to seven games in a row. Not only are the Mavericks on a roll after advancing to 16-8 on the season, but the team has consecutively found ways to win while battling injuries.
While the team is riding a hot streak, it is entering the most important part of its young season, with the NBA Cup Knockout Round approaching rapidly. The Mavericks quarterfinal matchup will be against the Oklahoma City Thunder for a chance to compete in Las Vegas.
Before the Mavs compete against the Thunder, they must address a major issue that has swept through the locker room. For multiple weeks, the Mavericks have battled a locker room illness that has kept multiple key players sidelined. The latest player to end up on the team’s injury report with illness has been Maxi Kleber.
While Kleber missed critical time to start the season with a hamstring strain, he has played in the team’s last 12 games. If anything can be taken away from Kleber’s performance to begin the season, it’s that the German forward has lost a step since entering the league. He has also been in trade rumors recently, and it may be time to move on due to another player on the roster having the ability to potentially step into his role.
After an impressive showing against the Raptors, Olivier Maxence-Prosper has taken a step in the right direction in proving to Jason Kidd he has what it takes to step into the rotation. Prosper not only excelled in his time on the floor, but he could be stepping into Kleber’s role while the 32-year-old big is sidelined with an illness.
Throughout the season, fans have noticed that Kleber has lost a step in athleticism defensively and with his shot from behind the arc. If Prosper proved anything to fans, it’s that his energy and athleticism make him a better option than Kleber in a reserve role.
Prosper’s youth and bounciness make him a unique defensive product who can defend guards to forwards. In addition to his defense, Prosper has slowly become a reliable piece on the offensive end when he’s paired with a guard like Kyrie Irving or Luka Doncic.
In Toronto, Prosper showcased his outside shot-making ability by nailing down a shot from the left-side corner and extending Dallas’ lead. Prosper also displayed his energetic defense by grabbing a steal, which resulted in a Klay Thompson transition three.
Prosper has not only proven to be a better weapon than Kleber on both ends of the floor, but he is also a better rebounder. Prosper hauled in six rebounds in his limited time on the floor against the Raptors and started multiple fast-break attempts by pushing the ball.
Only time will tell if Kidd is ready to defer Kleber’s role to Prosper off the bench, but the Canadian forward has proven he has the skill set to compete for rotational minutes.
Prosper’s emergence in the rotation has given the Mavericks much-needed flexibility to use for trades. Kleber may not be the player he once was, but his contract gives him value for any team willing to take on his descending contract.
Prosper will need to continue to play at a high level while Kleber remains sidelined for the foreseeable future with a lingering illness, but assuming Prosper can continue to play at a high level, Kidd will have no reason to not play Prosper over Kleber moving forward.
