Los Angeles Lakers fans have been busy this offseason as they try to keep track of everything the franchise is doing, ranging from free-agent signings to this year's NBA Summer League. It's the type of action-packed summer the Lakers faithful needed after a disappointing playoff run, leaving time to tell if general manager Rob Pelinka has more moves in store before the 2025-26 season.
The Lakers still have about three months before the regular season begins, though, giving Pelinka & Co. plenty of time to make another signing or offseason trade. There are still a handful of players L.A. might want to upgrade from before July is even over, including a veteran forward who barely suited up last season.
Lakers Could Still Replace Maxi Kleber Before August
Availability is often the best ability in sports, which is also something Maxi Kleber lacked after landing in Los Angeles as a part of February's Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis blockbuster. With that in mind, the Lakers would be wise to find a way to move on from the German-born veteran soon.
After all, it isn't as if Kleber gave the Lakers many reasons to keep him around after the trade. The 6-foot-10 veteran last suited up with the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 25 due to a right foot fracture, and didn't play another game until Los Angeles met the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs. Even then, Kleber only played less than five minutes in one appearance, missing the lone shot he took in the Game 5 elimination loss.
It'd be one thing if Kleber had become a free agent when the offseason began, but that wasn't the case. The oft-injured veteran is under contract for the 2025-26 campaign with an $11 million cap hit, which could be money better spent elsewhere, whether that's on another player making a similar salary or as a trade piece in a deal for another All-Star-caliber player.
It wasn't long ago when Kleber was a solid floor-stretching big man with the Mavericks, often benefiting from Doncic's playmaking prowess. Unfortunately, a slew of injuries has caused his performance to rapidly regress. He hasn't hit the 70-game mark since 2019-20, and has only played 223 games across the last five seasons, which includes 43 or fewer in each of the last three.
Considering how Kleber is turning 34 years old in January, there's a good chance his health issues won't disappear at this stage of his career. That's why the Lakers must consider replacing him with someone who has a better shot at being a healthy on-court contributor, or else his injury woes could cause headaches throughout the 2025-26 schedule.
With how quickly the NBA offseason is flying by, the Lakers must find a way to move on from Kleber soon before the opportunity passes them.