One of the more beloved and respected players on the Los Angeles Lakers last season was veteran big man Maxi Kleber. While he wasn’t a regular member of the rotation, he was always ready any time his number was called and provided a real impact on multiple occasions throughout the year.
Kleber is an unrestricted free agent this summer, but it is looking like he won’t be returning to the NBA next season. According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, the veteran is monitoring his European market and is likely to return overseas:
Longtime NBA veteran Maxi Kleber is exploring a move to Europe, sources tell BasketNews.
According to BasketNews sources, the longtime German national team forward is likely to continue his career in Europe, as a 34-year-old stretch big is actively monitoring his EuroLeague market.
The move makes a lot of sense for Kleber, who is now 34 years old and has spent nine seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Dallas Mavericks before joining the Lakers as part of the Luka Doncic trade in 2025. He was born in Wurzburg, Germany and began his professional career playing in Germany and Spain for the likes of Obradoiro and Bayern Munich.
Some injuries slowed him down over the last couple of years, including a torn hamstring in 2022 and a foot fracture suffered not long before he was traded to the Lakers. Kleber also dealt with a back issue this past season that kept him out at times.
Even still, when the Lakers dealt with injuries in the front court, head coach JJ Redick often called on Kleber and while his numbers won’t jump off the page, his ability to stretch the floor, rebound, set screens and high energy often made a difference. But it looks as if Kleber is ready to be closer to home as he enters the latter stages of his playing career.
Lakers’ center Deandre Ayton exercises player option for 2026-27 season
The Lakers’ starting center this past season was Deandre Ayton and the big man has chosen to exercise his player option for $8.1 million for the 2026-27 season. Ayton averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in his first year with the Lakers while starting all 72 games he appeared in last season.
Ayton has his ups and downs in his first season with the Lakers but came on strong down the stretch of the regular season and in the first round of the playoffs. However, he isn’t the best fit with superstar Luka Doncic and upgrading the center position is known to be a priority for the Lakers so there is still a chance that the team moves him this summer.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
