Reports indicate Kleber is weighing his options in Europe, with EuroLeague teams reportedly monitoring his availability for the 2026-27 season. At 34, the forward is evaluating European opportunities, which could mark the end of his involvement in one of the league’s most consequential trades.
Maxi Kleber’s role in the Doncic trade is often overlooked in discussions about its impact. The Lakers acquired Doncic, Kleber, and Markieff Morris in a three-team deal with the Dallas Mavericks, finalized on February 2, 2025. Los Angeles sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and its 2029 first-round pick to Dallas, while the Utah Jazz facilitated the arrangement. While Doncic was the primary target, Kleber contributed as a valuable asset, providing salary ballast for the Mavericks and offering the Lakers a seasoned frontcourt player who had experience playing alongside Doncic. Kleber had spent his entire NBA career with Dallas prior to the trade, including the Mavericks’ run to the 2024 NBA Finals.
For Kleber, the fit next to Doncic highlighted three practical strengths: floor spacing, defensive versatility, and comfort operating without the ball. He is a career 35.2% three-point shooter and has averaged about 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks across 483 regular-season appearances. However, his tenure with the Lakers did not unfold as hoped.
Kleber was recovering from foot surgery at the time of the trade and did not debut for the Lakers until Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He returned to play a limited role the following season, averaging around 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting about 45% from the field. The on-court impact did not match his previous production or the early expectations tied to his role alongside Doncic.
This development reflects broader changes in the Lakers’ frontcourt, as the team has continued to add size and shooting around Doncic rather than preserving a roster spot for Kleber. His outside shooting slipped, and his overall offensive impact diminished, which narrowed the case for a return, even on a veteran-minimum contract. In the 2025-26 season, Kleber connected on only about 23.1% of his three-point attempts and fluctuated in and out of rotations. While his defensive awareness and rebounding remained useful in certain matchups, his reduced offensive contribution made consistent playing time harder to justify.
There remains a path for Kleber if a team seeks veteran depth at the forward position. He could draw interest later in the offseason or during training camp from contenders seeking affordable, experienced frontcourt depth and multiplier versatility on defense. A return to Europe could also be appealing, especially given his prior professional stints in his homeland with German clubs such as Bayern Munich before joining Dallas in 2017. A European move could offer a larger role than he might secure in the NBA at this stage of his career.
Doncic’s acquisition positioned him as the centerpiece of the Lakers’ future, while Kleber, as part of the same trade, now appears more likely to continue his career elsewhere.
