Trade Idea Between Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers Proposed

The LA Clippers are always active at the NBA trade deadline, but they have also never been this dominant past the midway mark of a season. With a set rotation, the Clippers have been the best team in basketball since December 1st, going 26-5 since that date.

Without any glaring holes in their roster, the Clippers could certainly justify a quiet trade deadline that doesn't shake up what is currently the best team in basketball. That said, several reports have indicated LA's potential interest in a floor-spacing big who can alternate between a power forward and small-ball center in different lineup combinations.

There are several players who fit this description, and in a recent article from Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber was named as an option for the Clippers. This is a hypothetical proposal from Favale, as opposed to sourced reporting on any interest from the Clippers, but Kleber's prototype is what multiple reports have indicated LA might be interested in.

At 6'10", Kleber is a stretch-big who takes over half of his field goals from beyond the arc. Shooting 37.1% from deep this season, and 46.4% on wide open threes, Kleber is certainly a threat from distance. That said, depending on the price from Dallas, this may not be the type of move the Clippers are looking to make.

Kleber is under contract through 2026, and is owed $11M each of the next two seasons. Maintaining as much financial flexibility as possible is crucial for a Clippers team that is already operating with very little breathing room, so committing to Kleber for two more seasons may be a non-starter already.

As for his fit on this Clippers team, Kleber could certainly help as a floor-spacing big off the bench, but the upgrade he would be over any of LA's current rotation players is marginal at most. This makes Kleber a hard sell for the Clippers, especially with his contract length and injury concerns.