Maxi Kleber was pretty much a throw-in in the Luka Doncic trade, and now, it looks like his career could be coming to a close. After this year’s playoff run, the Lakers may look to fill Kleber’s roster spot with a guy who can give them a bit more on both ends (and perhaps somebody a bit younger).
Kleber is 34 years old, and his minutes per game number has been declining since the 2022-23 season. Last season with the Dallas Mavericks, Kleber played 18.7 minutes per contest. He didn’t play in the regular season for the Lakers last year, and after LA’s summer of additions, his minutes were cut to just 10.7 per contest this year.
Based on the recent trajectory Kleber has been on, it wouldn’t be surprising if this were his last year in the NBA.
Maxi Kleber seems likely to retire this summer
At the peak of his powers, Kleber was a quality role player for the Luka Doncic-led Mavericks. He could give them a little bit of everything on both ends of the court.
Kleber could drop back and protect the rim, but he also wasn’t a terrible perimeter defender when he needed to be. Plus, his floor spacing made him a decent pick-and-pop threat alongside Doncic.
But as the years have gone on, Kleber’s minutes aren’t the only thing that has tailed off, as his efficiency has taken big hit after big hit in recent seasons.
This past year, in his limited minutes, Kleber averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 45.2% from the field but just 23.1% from deep range on 0.6 attempts per contest.
If Kleber were to provide any value to LA’s lineup, it would be by utilizing his past abilities as a stretch big man. But clearly, based on his numbers since joining the Lakers, that hasn’t been happening.
When Kleber was at his best, he even received a few votes for Sixth Man of the Year, but now, he seems like an afterthought on a Lakers bench that will already need to see some big-time improvements this summer.
Perhaps there is a chance that the Lakers, Mavericks, or another team around the league like Kleber enough to bring him on board as a veteran mentor on the end of the bench.
But at this point, it seems unlikely that he will be providing any team with significant minutes next season, which means this postseason will be his last chance to show he’s still got it.
Though that seems unlikely. The more likely outcome is that, after this year’s playoffs, Kleber ends up leaving the NBA altogether.
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