Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Reddick has returned to a team that looks like “someone from Game of Thrones” after seeing positive signs from one of his players.
The Los Angeles Lakers crashed from the playoffs in the first round last season. They ended an insane year, losing to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.
Despite their early playoff exits, the 2024-25 season can only be seen as a success for the Lakers. They acquired the future superstar from thin air in the now-acclaimed Luka Donsic trade with the Dallas Mavericks. They are now going to compete for years to come.
Donsic’s arrival in Los Angeles since last season was not the only positive. According to NBA analysts, manager JJ Redick saw something with one of his players during the playoffs.
The Lakers had serious problems at center last season. They tried to trade for Mark Williams of the Charlotte Hornets, but he failed to get his medical care. Rudy Gobert dominated the Lakers on both ends in the playoffs, having 27 points and 24 rebounds, finishing the season in Game 5.
After Anthony Davis was traded for Dallas, they have since signed DeAndre Ayton to add the size they needed for their team. However, NBA insiders said Maxi Kleber, a player who joined the team last season, could also play a role at center next season.
Speaking about Lakeshow Podcasts, NBA analyst Andy Kamenetzky explained:
“In the elimination game, crunch time, you essentially needed a name tag to find out who his teammate was. I honestly thought it was a bit crazy that JJ went there, but even so, the indication of JJ is like putting him in that context.”
Clever was one of the forgotten works of the Don Chic Trade. He was sent to the Lakers along with the Slovenians after playing a role in the Mavericks’ 2024 final. Clever averaged 16 minutes in the final against the Boston Celtics and is back from the offseason and is ready to contribute in LA this year.
One of the summer stories of the NBA offseason is Donsic’s body transformation. He worked hard to lose weight throughout the summer, and Donsic looks better than ever for Slovenia in Eurobasket.
However, he is not the only player in Mavericks Trades. Kamenetzky said Kleber has returned to “Jack” ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Speaking about Clever’s offseason, Kamenetsky said, “He’s jacked and shredded. He looks like 300 people or someone from Game of Thrones.”
That may be crucial for the Lakers’ chances next season. They have star power for Donsic and LeBron James and have defences on the boundary line with the likes of Louis Hachimura, Jared Vanderbilt and Marcus Smart. What’s missing is the size and physicality of the interior.
Ayton has talent, but he’s been criticised for his lack of intensity on the rim, which leads to him frequently hanging out on the board. If Kleber’s new build allows him to box out big guys for rebounds and exist on the rim, it’s a game-changer on Redick’s roster.