The Los Angeles Lakers have quickly developed into one of the best teams in the NBA since the turn of the calendar. Over their last 22 games, they’ve won 18, while dealing with key injuries and even incorporating a heliocentric offensive superstar in Luka Dončić.
The key to that turnaround has been their defense. But they continue to struggle in a few areas, especially since Dončić, with three-point shooting a key concern. While they may be able to surge through the regular season, they’ll need some help in the playoffs. And according to the latest reports, they might just get it.
Luka Dončić Finds Help in Familiar Teammate
Maxi Kleber has been a solid if unspectacular, depth piece for the Dallas Mavericks for the entirety of Dončić’s tenure with the team. A reliable deep threat and a plus defender on the perimeter, his shooting ability made him stand out as a stretch big.
In the league-shattering Dončić for Anthony Davis trade, he was an auxiliary piece that the Lakers acquired to make salaries match. Out with an injury, his status for the season was in jeopardy, until now.
“The Los Angeles Lakers believe there is a possibility Maxi Kleber will make his team debut before the start of the playoffs, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. “I’ve heard that there is some optimism that a return before the end of the regular season is possible,” Jovan Buha said on “Buha’s Block.”
In the playoffs, especially, his contributions were key for the Mavericks in series against the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves. A 35% shooter in the regular season from three-point range, his averages went up to nearly 39% in the postseason.
That kind of bump made him a nightmare to defend, especially alongside a playmaking maestro like Dončić. But, in Los Angeles, that danger might be doubled as he gets to share the court with his Slovenian running mate and the man who is top 3 all-time in assists, LeBron James.
The two gifted passers have already made it a nightmare for teams to defend the Lakers. But, in Kleber, they could add a reliable outside threat, something the team has struggled with in their recent success.
Since the five-time All-Star became a Laker, the team is shooting an apathetic 33.9% from distance, far below the league average. They’ve still held a 7-2 record in that timespan, including being on a current six-game win streak.
But that run has been defined by their defense, which has held opponents to 102 or lower points in each of their last seven games. In Kleber, they’ll get another big body who can hustle for loose balls and keep their feisty energy going.
All in all, for a team that is struggling with putting true big men on the court, Kleber would be a solid addition as a depth piece. But his unique talents, which coincide seamlessly with his two superstars, should make Los Angeles an even bigger nightmare matchup.
