The Mavericks' Maxi Kleber predicament is continuously getting worse

The Dallas Mavericks are set to take on the Orlando Magic this Sunday evening, as the Mavericks are getting a two-day rest after losing to the Houston Rockets on Halloween night. 

Dallas’ loss to Houston was underwhelming in many facets, as the Mavericks got out-worked on the glass and had a lack of urgency in terms of getting high-quality shots in the first half.

The game was especially underwhelming since Dallas was basically fully healthy as well, as the only two Mavericks out due to injury were Dante Exum and Maxi Kleber.

In a game where Jaden Hardy, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Quentin Grimes all got substantial minutes, Exum may have not had the biggest impact on this contest based on the minutes distribution at the guard position.

Maxi Kleber's lack of durability is unsustainable for Mavericks

However, with Dallas suffering so badly on the glass in this contest, Kleber very well could’ve helped mend that issue if he played with one of Gafford or Lively II in a two-big lineup.

Of course Kleber was out with a right hamstring strain though, as Kleber has now missed the last two contests due to an injury on the same hamstring that he gores during the 2022-23 season.

Kleber has only played in 80 combined games over the last two seasons, as a myriad of different injuries that he’s suffered over the past two seasons have left Mavericks fans wondering whether Dallas burned the tread on Kleber’s tires too soon in his career.

Kleber was arguably overextended in his role in the 2022 NBA Playoffs as well as some of his other previous seasons in Dallas, and this could very well be the reason that he hasn’t been able to establish any sort of consistency on the court since he turned on the wrong side of 30-years-old.

Recent comments by head coach Jason Kidd give Mavericks fans reason to believe that Kleber may not be coming back anytime soon either, as Kidd didn’t reveal any details as to whether Kleber would be available at any point during Dallas’ current five-game home stand.

Kleber’s injury being on the same hamstring he tore two seasons ago is already concerning enough. With his inconsistencies in Dallas’ lineup as well as his up-and-down play on both ends when he’s played though, the bigger discussion is heading toward if second-year forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper could assume Kleber’s role once Kleber is healthy.

This isn’t to say that Kleber isn’t a solid role player when he’s clicking and healthy, but he hasn’t proven himself to be consistent enough when those two factors aren’t going his way over the last two seasons, and he doesn’t have forever to prove that he can be even half the player he was two seasons ago.

Kleber’s ability to stretch the floor from the big-man position is a skill set that is unique to Dallas’ roster, though he may find himself on the trade block or his role taken by the time he gets back from this injury, especially since Lively II is poised to develop his jumper further as his career progresses.