4 Mavericks players the Lakers have to demand in any LeBron trade

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 26 : Josh Green #8 of the Dallas Mavericks passes the ball around Mo Bamba #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the game at American Airlines Center on February 26, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

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Maxi Kleber, Dallas Mavericks. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images /

The Lakers have to demand Maxi Kleber

The Lakers can’t only look to trade for the Mavericks’ young players because that list ends very quickly. To match salaries and get back enough value, the Lakers are going to have to take back some veteran players, and Maxi Kleber should be the first name mentioned.

Kleber is a 6’10” switch big, with the shooting ability to play the 4 and the lower-body strength to play the 5. He has been the Mavericks’ best defensive player for the past few seasons (he and Dorian Finney-Smith, who was traded to the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline in the Irving deal), able to take on a variety of matchups.

If the Lakers do want to try and win around Anthony Davis for at least a season, Kleber is the best fit on the Mavericks to do that. He would give the Lakers a stretch-big to pair with Davis, spacing the court while being able to cross-match with Davis depending on the opponent defensively.

He also has good value league-wide, so if and when the Lakers are ready to flip him they can expect a good return, be that a middle-to-late first-round pick or a young player on a team ready to contend. The Mavericks will almost certainly want to keep Kleber to play the 5 beside LeBron, but asking for him is the right negotiating move to get fair value in a deal.

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