Story by
Lakers predicted to part ways with $33 million forward part of historic Luka Doncic trade
- Story by
- Lakers predicted to part ways with $33 million forward part of historic Luka Doncic trade
Lakers predicted to part ways with $33 million forward part of historic Luka Doncic trade originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Los Angeles Lakers are likely on the verge of parting ways with non-impactful assets who have no reason to be on a Western Conference squad with championship aspirations.
Advertisement
Lake Show Life's Tyler Watts tabbed a 34-year-old forward who was part of the historic 2025 midseason Luka Doncic trade ( Anthony Davis , Max Christie , and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Doncic, Kleber , and Markieff Morris ) as one of them.
"The Lakers have to move on from Maxi Kleber," Watts wrote Monday. Kleber played 15 total minutes in the playoffs and was only on the floor when the game was close in Game 4 against the Thunder ."
"Head coach JJ Redick surprisingly used the 6-foot-10 forward as a screener when they needed a 3-pointer. It took the red-hot Rui Hachimura off the floor and created plenty of questions."
"Luka has plenty of say over personnel decisions, but the Lakers can't bring Kleber back. He will be an unrestricted free agent. If he wants to continue playing in the NBA, it will be on a minimum contract. Still, the Lakers need depth to compete with the Thunder and Spurs . Kleber can't stay healthy, and nobody knows what to expect from the 34-year-old."
Advertisement
Kleber's 2025-26 audition with the Lakers was disappointing, to put it mildly. The Lakers hoped the 6-foot-10 veteran would provide the franchise with serviceable low-post and perimeter shooting, but he failed to deliver in 43 regular-season contests.
Kleber averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game with Los Angeles this year, shooting 45.2% from the field and 23.1% from beyond the arc. The Wurzburg, Germany native was virtually unplayable in the postseason, as the only two games he appeared in were lopsided affairs (he logged seven minutes in a 115-96 Game 4 first-round loss to the Houston Rockets in the first round, and eight minutes in a 131-108 Game 3 Western Conference Semifinals loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder .
In short, all signs point to the Lakers parting ways with Kleber this summer.
More NBA news:
Advertisement
