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.
Kleber is entering the final year of the $33 million contract he initially signed with the Mavericks back in 2022.
