Dec. 15 is almost here. For those who are unaware, which hardly feels possible given how much it has been discussed, that marks the pivotal date on the NBA calendar when trade season unofficially begins for all 30 teams in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers will inevitably join the festivities.
This is not going to be a matter of if. It will almost undoubtedly be a question of when. How soon does Rob Pelinka find a deal he likes and pounce on the opportunity?
The Golden State Warriors proved last season why it can be advantageous to make a move early. They acquired Dennis Schroder, gave the experiment a shot, and rerouted him in favor of eventually securing Jimmy Butler when the initial venture failed.
If the Lakers were going to replicate a similar approach, there is one clear member of the roster who stands out as a part of the outgoing package for Los Angeles. That would be Maxi Kleber.
Maxi Kleber’s brief Lakers stint could be coming to an end
Kleber arrived in Los Angeles to little fanfare, being a throw-in to the seismic Luka Doncic trade. The veteran big man has not done much since to accumulate good publicity.
Kleber did not suit up for the Lakers last season until the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Working his way back from an injury, the former Dallas Mavericks big man was finally healthy enough to see the court in the first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It was one lone appearance for the veteran big that did not deliver much substance for the Lakers. His minutes off the bench are often cited as a brutal example of just how weak the depth was for the team in 2024-25.
After a healthy offseason, Kleber has gotten more opportunities in a Lakers jersey this season to establish himself. Thus far, the Lakers big has only averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game off the bench, with shooting splits of 40-38-75.
At a salary of $11 million for the 2025-26 season, more production would certainly be desirable. However, given that it is also an expiring contract, it makes Kleber a prime candidate to be looking for a real estate agent in the near future.
The former Maverick was a solid role player for many seasons in Dallas. That just has not been the case during the last few years, with his offense dropping off significantly.
Kleber has been sidelined recently, dealing with a lower back injury. With the Lakers struggling to find defense, athleticism, shooting, and bench scoring, any one of these needs could have him moved before even being given the opportunity to return to the court for Los Angeles.