​The Sporting News first reported that the Los Angeles Lakers have ended their association with a 6-foot-10 former Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter, effectively ending a brief and unimpressive stint with the Lakers. The veteran 34-year-old, who did not make a noticeable impact in his time in Los Angeles, is now expected to move on, with the Lakers renouncing his free agent rights as part of their broader roster moves.
Sources close to the situation indicated that the Lakers have formally renounced the free agent rights of several players, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr., Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, and Wayne Ellington. Among them, Maxi Kleber stands out as the lone 6-foot-10 former Mavericks contributor who had joined the Lakers in a high-profile trade from Dallas on February 2, 2025. However, Kleber’s Lakers tenure never truly took off. He did not play in any games for Los Angeles during a significant portion of his initial period with the team due to a right foot fracture. That injury sidelined him early in the 2025-26 season, and when he did make his Lakers debut on November 8 in a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, his campaign was disrupted by further injuries that caused him to miss 41 games.
Kleber’s arc with the Lakers was a stark contrast to his productive years with the Mavericks, where he established himself as a reliable long-range threat, hitting 37.3% from three-point range during the 2019-20 season and improving to 41.0% the following year. In Los Angeles, his long-range shooting dipped dramatically, finishing the year with a 23.1% three-point percentage. That decline underscored a broader picture: the undrafted forward, who had shown potential at his peak, did not translate that form to the Lakers, contributing only modest value when available and repeatedly dealing with injuries that limited his impact.
The implications of the Lakers’ decision appear to be consistent with the contemporary reality of the 2026-27 season planning. Scotto’s reporting essentially corroborated the sentiment that Kleber would likely be pursuing opportunities with another NBA team in the 2026-27 season, whether within the league or potentially overseas in the EuroLeague. BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas had recently noted that discussions or speculation about Kleber’ s next destination included the possibility of him continuing his career outside the NBA, given the uncertain trajectory of his role and the continued questions about his health and fit on a demanding NBA roster.
The broader narrative at play here is one of strategic roster management, where the Lakers are actively reshaping their guard and forward rotations in response to both health realities and performance concerns. The renunciation of free agent rights for a number of players indicates a reset or a reallocation of salary-cap commitments, allowing the franchise to pursue new opportunities and potential upgrades that could better align with the team’s on-court goals and long-term vision. For fans, the Kleber development is perhaps the most telling microcosm of a larger pattern: past promise, tempered by injuries and inconsistent production, giving way to a calculated pursuit of more reliable contributors at the right price.
As this situation continues to unfold, the broader NBA landscape is watching to see where Kleber’s next chapter will take him. His skill set—particularly his shooting stroke from beyond the arc—will remain an appealing asset for teams seeking floor spacing. Yet the path forward for a 34-year-old veteran who has battled injuries and found limited minutes in Los Angeles may hinge on a combination of health, fit, and opportunity, whether that leads him to another NBA organization or a return to international competition.
For readers seeking additional context and updates, The Sporting News remains a preferred source of record, and further details can be found through their ongoing coverage of the Lakers’ offseason moves and the evolving conversations around Kleber and his professional status. The evolving NCAA and pro basketball rumor mill continues to connect discussions of roster changes, potential signings, and strategic trades that could shape the Lakers’ competitive prospects in the 2026-27 season and beyond.