The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off their training camp earlier this week, but are already dealing with frustrating injuries to multiple players. LeBron James and Marcus Smart are still not practicing, and Gabe Vincent was held out of first practice for a "knee management issue".
On Wednesday, another injury concern was added to the list. Head coach JJ Redick said that Maxi Kleber tweaked his quad and got an MRI, per Lakers insider Jovan Buha. While it is reportedly not expected to be a serious injury, any ailment to Kleber should be worrisome, knowing his history.
Maxi Kleber Already Giving Lakers Fans Injury Concerns
Kleber's Lakers tenure has been marred by injuries. When he arrived in Los Angeles as part of the Luka Doncic trade in February, he was already recovering from a foot surgery that needed more time. He was not able to make his Lakers debut in the regular season and had to wait until Game 5 of the first-round series to suit up in a Lakers uniform.
This has been a worrying trend for Kleber over the last several years. Kleber hasn't played more than 43 games in a season, as he's missed extended time due to various injuries over the past few years. Ahead of his age-34 season, Kleber being banged up is, unfortunately, not very surprising.
When healthy, Kleber has a chance to be an impactful bench piece for the Lakers. He has intriguing defensive versatility, as he can guard multiple positions. He also gives the Lakers a small-ball five option who can space the floor with his shooting from the center position. Compared to other centers on the roster, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, that look gives Redick another tool heading into the season.
Whether the German big man can be healthy for long enough stretches, however, will be a key question for his future with the team. A very physical player who plays bigger than his size, Kleber's body has taken a toll over the years. How much gas he has left in the tank is unclear, since Lakers fans barely saw him in action after his foot surgery.
If the outlook for Kleber is not great, he could be a trade chip for the Lakers, with his expiring $11 million salary. Attached to a first-round pick and other salaries like Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt, Kleber could net the Lakers a difference-maker. Therefore, it will be interesting to see if Kleber will finish the season in LA.