The Los Angeles Lakers will have quite a few names on the free agent market this summer, but they are expected to let one player walk. Maxi Kleber is expected to leave the team in free agency without a new contract offer coming his way. The Lakers will have to decide on the future of many other upcoming free agents on the roster. However, Kleber is not expected to be part of that core the team hopes to talk with in the offseason.
Lake Show Life claimed that Kleber is expected to be gone for good as a less important member of the roster:
“Maxi Kleber’s three-year, $33 million deal will expire heading into the offseason. There should be very little reason to bring him back in free agency to Los Angeles. Kleber arrived as a part of the Doncic trade before the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
Since then, the veteran big man has offered little to no substantial impact in a Lakers uniform on the court. At 34 years old, it is fair to wonder whether the German big man is still an NBA-caliber player. If someone deems Kleber to still be at that level, it should not be the Lakers.”
Kleber’s bigger concern is finding an NBA job at all since he’s been mostly unplayable this season. The Lakers mostly added Kleber at the end of games when teams were desperate for a three-point shot when trailing by three or more.
Lakers Hope To Keep Multiple Free Agents
LeBron James and Austin Reaves are the two most important names on the free agent market that the Lakers must retain. Both players are expected to get offers since the Lakers want to bring them back for a chance of title contention.
Rumors indicate that the Lakers hope to add Peyton Watson and other free agents to build a better team around Luka Doncic’s skill set. This could complicate the desires to retain Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes as free agents they’d like back.
All three players will enter free agency with momentum after having good performances for the Lakers this season and in the postseason with injuries. The Lakers are one of three teams with great cap space, but that money goes down with each name signed.
Maxi Kleber’s NBA Career May Be Over
Kleber achieved his best success with the Dallas Mavericks when getting to team with Luka and received many open three-pointers. Too many flaws and his older age make Kleber difficult to play in today’s NBA.
The Lakers lost faith in Kleber after he struggled to contribute over the past two seasons after getting traded there with Doncic. Kleber’s best days are behind him, and the current NBA landscape sees too much talent to waste a spot on him.
The best bet for Kleber is continuing his basketball career outside of the NBA. Kleber has great experience, but veterans who can’t play productive minutes no longer get roster spots. The Lakers showing no interest in keeping Kleber means his career is on borrowed time.
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