Mavericks' longtime former fan favorite is sadly on thin ice with his new team

After Cooper Flagg was drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks on June 25, it was officially time for the team to look at a new future with Flagg and move past the Luka Doncic era. Even though Doncic was in the MVP running in 2024, along with leading the Mavs to an NBA Finals appearance in 2024, the ceiling for Flagg is miles above most college prospects in NBA history.

Of course, the Doncic trade came with boos and calls to fire Nico Harrison, while that would've satisfied plenty of Mavs fans, the fact is that Doncic is a Los Angeles Lakers superstar, and Flagg is the next generation of the NBA. One part of the trade that Mavs fans could agree on was to trade Maxi Kleber. After being a reliable perimeter shooter and paint defender for many years, Kleber became trade bait after simply laying eggs on offense and constantly battling injuries.

Now, with Deandre Ayton signing with the Lakers after Rob Pelinka claimed that he wants to take their search for a center seriously this summer, this likely means that Kleber will probably be the odd one out of the rotation, and potentially the team altogether. After just one apperance in a Lakers uniform in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the former Mavs fan-favorite big man might just be kicked to the curb or the end of the bench, as Ayton will take a large portion of the center minutes.

Deandre Ayton's arrival may doom Maxi Kleber's Lakers future

Ayton's two-year deal with the Lakers is something that Los Angeles needed badly. The Lakers lacked physicality and big man depth last season, and it showed during the playoffs. The Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Lakers with their speed, conditioning, and rebounding down low. This may have been what prompted Doncic to finally take his weight seriously, even though it was already much too late, as he was traded away from Dallas months ago.

Kleber only got to appear in the last game of the season, and it should've made it clear to the Lakers organization that Kleber was just a liability. His injuries and offensive inconsistency quickly made him unplayable for the Mavs in the middle of the 2024-25 season. He had a game against the Phoenix Suns where he was draining 3-pointers, and looked to have a slight glimpse of hope to make it through the season.

Unfortunately, his minutes on the court were felt as a liability, and therefore had to be traded elsewhere as he was not worth the money that Dallas was paying him. While nobody will ever agree with Doncic getting traded, it was just a matter of time before Kleber was going to get traded, but he still should get a fair shot to play again.

If Kleber doesn't end up playing for the Lakers, and they move him before the season begins or during the season, he should end up being a mentor to a young team that needs him, like the Utah Jazz or Charlotte Hornets. His defensive paint presence is sorely needed on any team, and he still deserves a chance in a league where the glitz and glamour are all about deep shooting.

This would also mean the end of what was an incredible seven-year run with his good friend Doncic. While it stings to see Doncic and Kleber leave the Mavs, it was a beautiful sight for Mavs fans to see Doncic and Kleber stick together after such a massive blockbuster trade. Kleber deserves a shot somewhere else, and who knows what the future holds for him. Maybe he plays in the NBA again or not. Either way, the 33-year-old forward from Wurzburg has plenty of juice left inside him, and the Lakers' plan for him following the Ayton signing will be clear before we know it.