Lakers power forward Maxi Kleber was reportedly close to being involved in another trade with his new team.

A former fan favorite of the Dallas Mavericks, Kleber spent eight seasons in Dallas before being part of one of the biggest trades in NBA history — heading to Los Angeles along with NBA superstar Luka Dončić.

Now, after missing most of last season due to injury and playing just five minutes for the Lakers before re-injuring a right foot fracture he suffered in January, Kleber nearly found himself on the move again.

The reason?

The Lakers recently signed star guard Marcus Smart following his buyout with the Washington Wizards. To make room for the deal, Los Angeles needed to clear additional cap space.

Their first move was to release point guard Shake Milton, freeing up about $3 million. But that still wasn’t enough.

Initially, the Lakers considered trading away players like Dalton Knecht and another player on an expiring contract to bring back a single, more affordable option.

Kleber was rumored to be that expiring contract player potentially involved in the deal.

However, after exploring options, the Lakers ultimately chose a simpler route — releasing guard Jordan Goodwin to free up the remaining space and finalize the signing of Smart.

Kleber has long been regarded as a valuable role player and depth piece, known for his versatility as a big man with the ability to shoot from the perimeter.

Now, reunited with Luka Dončić — this time wearing purple and gold — Kleber hopes to make an impact in Los Angeles.

But injury concerns remain: over the past few seasons, he has missed significant time, and that’s the last thing the Lakers can afford after spending nearly all of their cap space to acquire Marcus Smart.

To avoid finding himself at the center of another major trade, Kleber will need to stay healthy, contribute consistently, and simply be available to help the Lakers in their pursuit of a championship next season.