Ranking every Dallas Mavericks player by trade likelihood

3. Maxi Kleber

Maxi Kleber has built his career from the ground up in Dallas and is in the first year of his three-year, $33 million extension that he signed with the Mavericks before the 2022-23 season. Kleber was coming off an outstanding playoff run in which he helped the Mavs reach the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

He was someone who Dallas relied on for rim protection and 3-point shooting, but over the last year or so he has been injured several times. Kleber tore his hamstring during the middle of the season last season, and he hasn't been the same since. He is averaging just 3.4 points per game this season and has only played in five games due to a dislocated toe.

He has also not been anywhere close to the rim protector he once was, and it may be in Dallas' best interest to trade him. This doesn't mean that he can't improve and return to being a great player like he once was, but his regression is concerning.

He doesn't look like the player he once was and he doesn't provide the edge that he once did. Paying Kleber $11 million annually over the next couple of years is not ideal, and if they can get his contract off their books, they should.

If Dallas moves him, they need to receive another frontcourt player in return though. Kleber provides size, and that's something the Mavs don't have much of.