The Los Angeles Lakers have officially cut ties with 34-year-old veteran Maxi Kleber, renouncing his free agent rights after an injury-plagued and seriously underwhelming stint. This move essentially confirms what Lakers fans had to be feeling, that the 6-foot-10 former Mavericks sharpshooter just couldn't make it work in Hollywood.
A Season Lost to the Treatment Room
Kleber, an undrafted forward from Wurzburg, Germany, was supposed to be a key piece when he joined the Lakers with Luka Doncic back on February 2, 2025, in a trade that had everyone buzzing. But from day one, it was a disaster. He didn't even *appear* in a game with Los Angeles after that trade because of a right foot fracture. Then, to kick off the 2025-26 season, he suffered a quad injury during the beginning of training camp, forcing him to miss the start of the season. He finally made his Lakers debut on November 8 against the Atlanta Hawks, but it wasn't the fresh start anyone hoped for. Kleber suffered even more ailments throughout the year, ending up missing a whopping 41 contests. You just can't get into any kind of rhythm when you're constantly sidelined.The Numbers Don't Lie: A Shooting Slump
What really hurts, though, is how far his play fell off a cliff when he *was* on the court. With the Mavericks, Kleber was a legit threat from long range, shooting 37.3% from three in 2019-20 and an even better 41.0% the following season. That's a sharpshooter! But in his ninth NBA season with Los Angeles, his long-range shooting percentage plummeted to a brutal 23.1%. That's just nowhere near his potential, and it had to be excruciating to watch for Lakers fans. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto confirmed the move, and it's no shocker. Kleber's time with the Lakers is over, and it looks like he's primed to spend the 2026-27 season with a different NBA franchise, or potentially even head over to the EuroLeague, according to a report from BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas. This isn't just about Kleber either; the Lakers officially renounced free agent rights to a whole squad of players, including big names like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Marcus Smart, along with a dozen others. It's a huge clear-out for the purple and gold, signaling a major shift in their roster.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.