The Los Angeles Lakers' lack of offseason activity and frustrating free agency have been well-documented. Despite the fans' desperate desire for immediate roster upgrades, GM Rob Pelinka has largely kept the team's powder dry. As a result, the Lakers are starting next season with the same core, other than replacing Dorian Finney-Smith with Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton.
One of the biggest reasons for the Lakers' inability to improve the roster is the sheer number of terrible contracts on their books. The front office has hamstrung itself with the negative-value deals it signed or acquired. Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent are set to make a cumulative $41 million for the 2025-26 season. None of these deals, however, are as bad as the $11 million Maxi Kleber will make next year.
Maxi Kleber's $11 Million Salary for Next Season Is Highway Robbery
Kleber was acquired by the Lakers as part of the Luka Doncic trade. The 33-year-old combo big was coming back from an injury and didn't make a regular-season appearance for the Lakers. In the first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, head coach JJ Redick threw the German veteran out there in desperation for five minutes, and that was Kleber's only minutes as a Laker.
Things should look better for Kleber next season, but the days of him as a reliable frontcourt option are over. He hasn't played 60 games in a season for the last five years, and has missed a total of 132 regular-season games in the last three campaigns. When he is available, he can be a fine two-way option thanks to his ability to switch defensively and hit shots offensively.
Those times have unfortunately been few and far between, making his $11 million salary for next season akin to highway robbery. Thankfully, it is an expiring contract, and the Lakers would love to include that contract in a trade before the season, but considering how little Kleber will likely contribute on the court, that may be easier said than done.