The Los Angeles Lakers shocked the world right before last season’s trade deadline when they traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic. A part of that deal was big man Maxi Kleber, but he has done little to no good so far after missing time—except for the last game in the playoffs.
“The Lakers acquired Kleber, Luka Doncic (calf) and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks on Saturday in exchange for Anthony Davis (abdomen), Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick, Shams Charania of ESPN reports,” CBS Sports wrote.
The Lakers have opened training camp, and Kleber has unfortunately suffered another injury.
“Gabe Vincent (knee) practiced Wednesday but a new name was added to the injury report for the Lakers. Maxi Kleber tweaked his quad Tuesday, sat out practice Wednesday and will require an MRI, according to coach JJ Redick. ‘Hopefully it's nothing serious,’ Redick said,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin posted.
This is not the news Lakers fans wanted to hear after Kleber already missed nearly the entire first season with LA. It also raises another nightmare scenario at the center position.
“Fans were looking forward to seeing what Kleber still had left in the tank as the backup center with the Lakers this season, and now it seems that'll be on hold. The Lakers are already thin at center, and Deandre Ayton is a question mark. This isn't the kind of news LA was hoping to receive before the season even starts,” Lake Show Life’s Jordanna Clark wrote.
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This casts a cloud over the team’s plans. Ayton could underperform, and if Kleber is absent, the last option is Jaxson Hayes. If that happens, Rob Pelinka will likely look to make a trade.
The timing of this injury is far from ideal, and unfortunately, Kleber might not get the tenure with the Lakers he hoped for. The MRI results will be very telling, and the season hasn’t even started yet.