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 take a look at Maxi Kleber.
At this stage in his career and coming off a serious leg injury, there were few expectations for Maxi Kleber as an on-court contributor this season. His role was going to be an end-of-the-bench veteran who could provide mentorship after years of experience in the league.
It felt like an added bonus, then, that Kleber was an integral part of numerous wins this season. While he could still contribute to wins every so often, it was also clear that he couldn’t do that repeatedly over multiple games.
Where does that leave him with the Lakers, then?
How did he play?
At times, he was a solid rotation player. More often, his limitations were far more apparent.
Once a mobile, pick-and-pop big who could space the floor with his shooting while being able to attack closeouts, much of those skills had been dulled down at this point in his career.
He shot just 23.1% from the 3-point line and, unsurprisingly, his ability to attack closeouts has diminished. The result was a pick-and-pop big who couldn’t knock down shots and couldn’t attack the space he helped create offensively.
To get by, then, he had to rely on his veteran savvy and experience, which was certainly enough at times. He was still a good offensive rebounder who knew how to get position and create extra possessions. But that can only get someone so far in the modern NBA.
The result was, as mentioned, Kleber having the ability to contribute in any one-off game, but not being able to replicate that in consecutive games.
His game logs are a good indication of that. Kleber would have a decent showing, play a couple of games in a row, then fall back out of the rotation. It was a pattern that replicated throughout the year.
What is the contract situation moving forward?
Kleber was in the final year of his contract this season. His $11 million contract comes off the books this summer, one of the handful of expiring contracts for the team.
Should he be back?
Kleber is at a point in his career where his value is more for what he can provide off the floor than on it. There is a market for that type of player, but only once a team builds out its team and Kleber is the final veteran voice.
That being said, the Lakers might be more open to having him back than any other team. He’s close to Luka Dončić and that has some weight to it.
The Lakers have valued that type of player at the end of the bench throughout the years. Jared Dudley, Tristan Thompson and Markieff Morris have held down that role in recent years.
Does it make sense for Kleber to hold that role next season? It depends on the roster composition. But he has a good relationship with the roster, is a respected veteran and has experience with the franchise.
Is that a role he’s open to having and one the Lakers are open to bringing him back for?
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