The Los Angeles Lakers look like a significantly better team right now than they did when they lost in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, at least on paper. They addressed their huge hole at the center position by signing seven-footer Deandre Ayton, a 27-year-old who has career averages of 16.4 points on 59% field-goal shooting and 10.5 rebounds a game.
The Lakers also brought in guard Marcus Smart, the NBA’s 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, as well as forward Jake LaRavia, an excellent 3-point shooter who seems to have some defensive potential.
But many feel the Lakers aren’t quite championship contenders right now. Fans point to the team’s lack of options at the 5 behind Ayton as one thing they’re unhappy about.
However, L.A. may have a solid backup center on its roster already.
Don’t sleep on Maxi Kleber
Kleber, a veteran big man, was widely considered to be nothing more than someone who was thrown into the Luka Doncic trade in February. At the time, he had just undergone surgery following a foot injury he suffered in late January, and prior to that, he had struggled mightily with his shooting, as he had made just 38.5% of his overall shot attempts and 26.5% of his attempts from 3-point range.
But in previous seasons, Kleber was a dependable 3-point shooter and a serviceable defender. In six previous seasons prior to the 2024-25 campaign, he shot 36.2% from downtown and averaged 7.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 3.6 3-point attempts in 23.9 minutes a game.
He isn’t a rim protector, and he isn’t a particularly good rebounder. But if he returns to form, he could be adequate for about 15 to 20 minutes a game, and certainly more adequate overall than Jaxson Hayes, L.A.’s current backup center.
Hayes was forced to be the team’s starting center this past season following the Doncic trade. While he can be a lob threat and occasionally protect the rim well, the rest of his game is very limited. Plus, at seven feet and 220 pounds, he lacks the strength to effectively box out or play solid positional defense.
Kleber is 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, making him a sturdier option at the 5 for the Lakers. Plus, he spent several seasons playing alongside Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks, so the two have chemistry together.
The question is whether Kleber, who is 33 years of age, will regain his old productivity following his foot injury. If he does, the Lakers may want to hang on to him for a little while rather than look to jettison him in a trade.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers may already have a better backup center than Jaxson Hayes
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
