Maxi Kleber is going to be the Los Angeles Lakers’ backup center. Based on how things unfolded last season, it is pretty obvious that is exactly what JJ Redick wants.
Kleber was barely visible for most of the year, playing just 34 games in the regular season. He missed months due to injury and logged just five playoff minutes in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. But when it mattered, Redick turned to him, not Jaxson Hayes.
Redick’s trust in Hayes practically evaporated post the Luka Doncic trade. Despite the Lakers being physically outmatched by the Timberwolves’ size, Hayes was stapled to the bench.