The Lakers’ offseason moves just keep delivering, and now it looks like veteran big man Maxi Kleber could be headed back to international basketball. After LA officially renounced his free-agent rights earlier this month, a new report from Moses, Head of Basketball at one.co.il, says Israeli powerhouse Hapoel Tel Aviv is seriously interested in bolstering their front court with Kleber. This pursuit could potentially mark the end of Kleber’s nine-year NBA career following the Lakers’ dramatic roster overhaul.
The Numbers Didn’t Lie, and Neither Did the Front Office
Let’s be real, Kleber’s brief stint with the Lakers was a tough run. He was known for staying ready and providing valuable minutes with his energy, rebounding, and defensive versatility whenever his number got called. But injuries constantly limited his availability, and his offensive production, particularly his outside shooting, just plummeted. We’re talking a brutal 23.1% from three-point range during the 2025-26 season, which is way, way down from his 35.2% career average. For a player whose main value as a big man was floor spacing, that drop was impossible to ignore. Combine that with his $11 million salary, which clearly didn’t match his on-court production anymore, and the Lakers had a cold, hard decision to make. They needed salary-cap flexibility, especially with their eyes on a younger roster.
A New Era Demands New Faces in LA
This isn’t just about Kleber though, it’s about the entire direction of the Lakers. Since LeBron James departed, the front office has completely shifted gears, focusing on building around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. They’ve been busy bringing in a ton of younger talent, like Walker Kessler and Matisse Thybulle, plus solid rotational contributors such as Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Kevon Looney. With all those fresh faces, there just wasn’t a fit for Kleber in their long-term plans. He arrived in LA as part of the Luka Dončić trade in 2025, but between injuries and inconsistent play, he never truly carved out a significant role. It’s a full-on youth movement in the City of Angels.
At 34 years old, Kleber looks to have another opportunity on the table back where it all started. Born in Würzburg, Germany, he played professionally in Europe, including stints with Obradoiro and Bayern Munich, before even hitting the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks in 2017. He spent most of his NBA career in Dallas, earning a rep as a modern stretch big who could guard multiple positions and set screens. Now, with Hapoel Tel Aviv reportedly targeting him, it sounds like he’s coming full circle. For the Lakers, this move confirms one thing: they are all-in on that youth movement around Dončić and Reaves, no looking back. It’s a new era, whether you like it or not, and old faces are definitely out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply