Maxi Kleber Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Lakers Notes: Doncic, Smart, Vanderbilt, Kleber, More

July 21st, 2025 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

“External fretting” about whether or not Luka Doncic will make a long-term commitment to the Lakers has subsided significantly in recent weeks, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link), who says the star guard and his camp have worked closely with the front office this summer as it has bolstered the roster in free agency.

As previously reported, Doncic played a major role in the Lakers’ efforts to recruit both center Deandre Ayton and guard Marcus Smart to Los Angeles. According to Stein, Doncic’s pitch to Smart “particularly resonated” with the former Defensive Player of the Year, who ultimately chose the Lakers despite the division-rival Suns making a “determined push” to land him.

As of August 2, Doncic will be eligible to sign an extension that could be worth up to a projected $222.4MM over four years. While there’s no guarantee he’ll sign for the maximum four years or that he’ll get a deal done immediately on Aug. 2, it seems increasingly likely that the five-time All-Star will have a new extension in hand before the 2025/26 season begins, as reporting over the weekend indicated.

Here’s more on the Lakers:

Like Doncic, Smart has been working hard this offseason on his body and his conditioning, according to Stein, who writes that the Lakers are optimistic about getting a “sleeker” version of the 31-year-old next season after he battled health issues over the past couple years.
Stein has also heard that forward Jarred Vanderbilt is healthier now than he was at any point during the 2024/25 season. Although both players were on last season’s roster, healthy versions of Vanderbilt and big man Maxi Kleber could feel sort of like offseason additions for the Lakers, Stein writes. Vanderbilt played a very limited role in 36 regular season outings last season, while Kleber didn’t make his debut as a Laker until the playoffs — both of them missed time while recovering from foot surgery.
People around the league believe Trail Blazers veterans Jrue Holiday and Robert Williams are potential trade targets to watch for the Lakers this season, according to Grant Afseth of Fast Break Journal. I’m skeptical of the Holiday fit, given that Los Angeles has shown no interest in taking on long-term money (Holiday is still owed $104.4MM over three years) and Portland was prepared to give up a pair of draft picks along with Anfernee Simons to acquire him (those two second-rounders ultimately weren’t included due to minor concerns about Holiday’s physical). However, if he proves he’s healthy, Williams might make some sense for the Lakers due to their limited depth behind Ayton in the middle.
In case you missed it, the Lakers waived both Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton on Sunday in order to create the cap flexibility necessary to sign Smart using their bi-annual exception.

Agent Says LeBron James Hasn’t Asked To Be Traded

July 12th, 2025 at 10:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Trade speculation has been swirling around LeBron James for the past two weeks since his decision to exercise a $52.6MM player option for next season was accompanied by a statement from agent Rich Paul indicating that James will be monitoring the Lakers‘ personnel moves to make sure they’re assembling a championship-level roster.

During today’s broadcast of L.A.’s Summer League game (Twitter video link), Dave McMenamin of ESPN relayed a conversation with Paul, who said James hasn’t asked him to work out a trade and he hasn’t discussed the possibility of a future trade with team officials. McMenamin adds that four teams contacted Paul directly to express interest in acquiring James.

Paul also dispelled a theory that James is upset because the Lakers didn’t offer him a contract beyond 2025/26, with McMenamin saying that Paul and James never asked the team for that.

James was at Saturday’s game to watch his son, Bronny James, and the rest of L.A.’s Summer League squad. McMenamin said he gave LeBron a chance to appear on the broadcast to discuss the situation, but he responded, “I ain’t got nothing to talk about.”

McMenamin states that it’s “business as usual” for the Lakers, who are trying to put together the best possible roster around James and Luka Doncic. He lists their assets in potential deals as their 2031 first-round pick and the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber and Gabe Vincent. They can open a roster spot by waiving Shake Milton before his $3MM contract for next season becomes fully guaranteed on July 20.

James raised some eyebrows around the league by visiting the Cavaliers’ practice facility last week. Although he explained it’s an annual occurrence because he lives in the area during the offseason, it’s possible that similar incidents will continue throughout the summer and maybe into the season until his future gets settled.

Trade Rumors: Lakers, Wiggins, Knicks, Celtics, Cavs, Bulls

June 26th, 2025 at 7:58am CST by Luke Adams

After previously reporting that the Lakers checked in with the Heat to inquire on Andrew Wiggins‘ price, Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints says the two teams have continued to explore the possibility of a Wiggins trade, though nothing is imminent.

As Irwin details, Rui Hachimura and his expiring contract would likely be the centerpiece of any deal, with another expiring contract (either Maxi Kleber‘s or Gabe Vincent‘s) necessary for salary-matching purposes. According to Irwin, league sources believe the Heat would also try to push for the inclusion of 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht.

A source tells Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald that the Heat are “very open” to moving Wiggins, who was part of last season’s Jimmy Butler trade with Golden State. Trading him for expiring salaries would create additional cap flexibility for Miami in the summer of 2026.

The Lakers are also scouring the trade market for help at the center position, Irwin continues, but he has heard from league sources that the front office believes the asking price for big men so far has been too high. As a result, it’s possible Los Angeles will look to use the $5.7MM taxpayer mid-level exception to address the center position while trying to upgrade other areas of the roster on the trade market, Irwin explains.

Here are a few more trade-related rumors from around the NBA:

Mikal Bridges‘ and Mitchell Robinson‘s names have surfaced in Knicks trade talks this offseason, according to Frank Isola of YES Network (Twitter link). Bridges and Robinson will also both be eligible to sign contract extensions beginning in July, so I’d expect New York to explore both scenarios before determining how best to move forward.
Prior to Wednesday’s first round, the Celtics touched base with teams in the lottery, including the Spurs at No. 14, but didn’t end up finding a deal they liked, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv. While Jaylen Brown and Derrick White rumors have circulated this week, Sam Hauser is considered Boston’s top current trade candidate — Chris Mannix of SI.com said during an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast that there has been a “robust” market for Hauser (Twitter video link).
The Cavaliers explored the possibility of trading into the first round on Wednesday, with a few picks considered to be available, but didn’t find any opportunities they deemed worthwhile, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The team holds the 49th and 58th overall picks on Thurday.
During a press conference on Wednesday night, Bulls general manager Marc Eversley said Chicago spoke to a few teams about moving up before deciding to stand pat at No. 12 and select Noa Essengue. Everseley added that the Bulls may end up trading tonight’s No. 45 pick or using it on a draft-and-stash prospect (Twitter links via Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times).

LeBron James Expresses Uncertainty About Future

May 1st, 2025 at 7:47am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of a Game 5 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday night that brought the Lakers‘ season to an end, star forward LeBron James expressed uncertainty when asked about his future and how much longer he plans to continue playing, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN relays.

“I don’t know,” James said. “I don’t have an answer to that. Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens. And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So we’ll see.”

James holds a player option for 2025/26 worth approximately $52.6MM. Discussing what next season’s Lakers roster might look like, he said he’ll have “a lot to think about myself.” The four-time MVP subsequently clarified that any uncertainty he’s feeling is about how far off his retirement might be — not whether he wants to remain in Los Angeles.

“Just continuing to play, I don’t know where I’m at,” James told ESPN. “That’s what that is. Not coming back to play here. Just playing, period.”

James isn’t the only Laker facing a big contract-related decision who wasn’t ready to make any definitive statements immediately after the team’s season came to an end. Star point guard Luka Doncic, who will become fully extension-eligible on August 2, said he’s “really glad” to be in L.A. (Twitter video link via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype), but will need some time to consider his contract options.

Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a midseason acquisition who helped stabilize the Lakers’ defense, will have to make a decision on a $15.4MM player option this offseason. Finney-Smith said he hasn’t thought about that option yet, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Even if the Lakers work out new deals with James, Doncic, and Finney-Smith this summer, the roster has a glaring hole in the middle that will need to be addressed in the coming months.

Head coach J.J. Redick moved Finney-Smith into his starting lineup in Game 5 ahead of big man Jaxson Hayes, who was a DNP-CD, and the Lakers played most of the night without a real center. Maxi Kleber made his Lakers debut coming off foot surgery, but saw just five minutes of action.

The Timberwolves capitalized in a major way on the Lakers’ lack of frontcourt size, making 20-of-22 (90.9%) of their shots in the restricted area, according to Jack Borman of Locked on Sports Minnesota (Twitter link).

Los Angeles was also out-rebounded by a 54-37 margin. Rudy Gobert grabbed 24 rebounds on his own, and his nine offensive boards were more than the eight collected by the Lakers’ entire team. That rebounding disparity helped the Wolves attempt 11 more field goals and eight more free throws than L.A.

The Lakers reached an agreement prior to February’s trade deadline to acquire third-year center Mark Williams from Charlotte, but they ultimately opted to void that trade due to concerns about Williams’ physical. Shortly after Los Angeles was eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday night, the Hornets big man published a tweet consisting of just a single character: a smiley-face emoji.

Asked after Wednesday’s game whether playing centerless basketball so frequently caught up with the Lakers, James jokingly refused to comment (Twitter video link via HoopsHype).

“My guy A.D. said what he needed, and he was gone the following week. So I got no comment,” James said with a smile, per Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times. “With that uniform on every night, I gave everything I had. And that’s all that matters.”

Lakers’ Maxi Kleber Available For Game 5

April 30th, 2025 at 8:34pm CST by Arthur Hill

Maxi Kleber, who underwent surgery after breaking his right foot in late January, has been medically cleared to make his Lakers debut, according to Khobi Price of The Orange County Register (Twitter link). Coach J.J. Redick confirmed Kleber’s status while meeting with reporters before Game 5 against Minnesota.

Kleber was acquired from Dallas in February as part of the massive Luka Doncic trade. He appeared in 34 games with the Mavs before the injury, making four starts and averaging 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.7 minutes per night with .385/.265/.762 shooting numbers.

Kleber was a standout in Europe before signing with Dallas as a free agent in 2017. He spent seven and a half seasons with the Mavericks, playing in 440 total games before being shipped to L.A.

The 33-year-old big man hasn’t seen any game action since suffering the injury in a January 25 contest against Boston. He has been making steady progress toward a return and was cleared for on-court activities early this month.

Kleber is making $11MM this season and has one year left on his contract at the same amount before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. He could help provide an answer to the Lakers’ ongoing problem with frontcourt depth if he’s fully healthy for the start of next season.

And-Ones: Luka Trade Offers, Coaches, Lithuania, Howard

April 9th, 2025 at 8:50am CST by Rory Maher

In an article for ESPN.com (Insider link), Bobby Marks examines what the other 28 NBA teams could hypothetically have offered the Mavericks for Luka Doncic, who was sent to the Lakers in February in arguably the most stunning trade in NBA history.

Marks’ exercise comes with a couple of caveats. The first is that a Doncic trade may have fallen apart had every team been able to make a bid for the superstar guard, which is why Dallas was so determined to keep its talks with Los Angeles quiet. The second is that the hypothetical offers are based on each team’s financial restrictions as of February 1, the day before the trade.

Which teams could have offered the Mavericks the most compelling combinations of win-now players and draft assets? According to Marks, the Cavaliers (Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, 2031 unprotected first-round pick) and Rockets (Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard, unprotected first-round picks in 2025 and 2027 via Phoenix) could have put the best packages together for Doncic (Cleveland would have been required to take back Maxi Kleber as well for salary-matching purposes, Marks notes).

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

In a story that was released before the Nuggets fired Michael Malone, Zach Harper of The Athletic listed four other head coaches who could be on the hot seat, with Mike Budenholzer of the Suns considered the most likely to be dismissed.
Confirming a report from BasketNews.com, Linas Kleiza said on his podcast (YouTube link) that Domantas Sabonis is unlikely to compete in this summer’s EuroBasket due to personal reasons (hat tip to EuroHoops.net). Kleiza, a former NBA player who is now general manager of the Lithuanian national team, also said that Jonas Valaniunas and Matas Buzelis are expected to compete in this year’s tournament.
Georgia businessman Calvin Darden Jr. was recently sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for cheating former NBA star Dwight Howard out of $7MM in a phony scheme to purchase the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, reports Philip Marcelo of The Associated Press. Darden was also convicted of stealing $1MM from former NBA forward Chandler Parsons in a separate scam. Darden was found guilty in October of wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering charges.

Lakers Notes: Doncic, LeBron, Hayes, Kleber

April 4th, 2025 at 8:02am CST by Arthur Hill

Luka Doncic wasn’t happy with his first experience in the Lakers-Warriors rivalry, taking the blame for Thursday’s loss to Golden State following a poor shooting night, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Doncic went 6-of-17 from the field and missed all six of his three-point attempts, ending a 114-game streak of making at least one three-pointer, which McMenamin notes was the fifth longest in NBA history.

The loss knocked L.A. back into fourth place at 46-30, a half-game behind Denver in the tight race for Western Conference seeding. The fifth-place Warriors moved to within a game of the Lakers at 45-31.

“That performance from me was unacceptable,” Doncic said. “When I play like that, that makes [it] harder [for the team] to win, so just got to figure that out.”

After the game, Doncic had ice on his left elbow, which was heavily wrapped in kinesiology tape, McMenamin states. However, Doncic refused to blame the injury for his shooting woes.

“It’s fine,” he said. “That’s my left [arm], so it’s fine. I was shooting with the right. It [just] looked like [the] left.”

There’s more on the Lakers:

LeBron James isn’t showing any effects from the groin strain that sidelined him for two weeks in March, McMenamin adds. In his seventh game since returning, James played 40 minutes and finished with 33 points, five rebounds and nine assists. “That was the best I’ve felt since before the injury, for sure,” he said. “I just tried to press, get downhill. My rhythm, as far as my jump shot, felt pretty good today. I have been shooting it from the free throw line extremely well as of late. But that was probably the best physically I’ve felt so hopefully I can build off of that.”
Jaxson Hayes saw his scoring numbers rise after the Doncic trade in early February, but opponents have adjusted to take away the lob threat, notes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. Hayes averaged 9.6 PPG and shot 78.4% from the field in his first 19 games with Doncic, but defenses are now focusing on keeping their low man close to the basket. “When teams do that, man, it’s either Luka’s gonna get a bucket or one of the shooters gonna get a bucket,” Hayes said. “They’re pulled in trying to help on my rolls and tackle on my rolls, that means the corner man’s open. So it’s just all about making the right reads. I just gotta continue to force overs and continue to roll hard so people come pull into the paint and can try to bring more of their defense in to get other guys open.”
Maxi Kleber, who was acquired from Dallas in the Doncic deal, has been cleared for on-court activities, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kleber is recovering from surgery on his right foot in late January.

Lakers Notes: Doncic, Adams, Centers, Vincent, Kleber

February 4th, 2025 at 1:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers‘ shocking acquisition of Luka Doncic landed the team its next franchise player, but it left the roster with a hole at center in the short term, general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged on Tuesday. As Jovan Buha of The Athletic tweets, Pelinka mentioned versatility, mobility, and verticality as some of the traits the team is looking for as it peruses the trade market for a big man after sending Anthony Davis to Dallas.

“We know we have a need for a big,” Pelinka said, per Sam Amick of The Athletic. “The market for bigs right now, leading into the last two or three days of the trade deadline, is very dry. There’s just not a lot available. So maybe we’ll be able to do some stuff around the margins.

“I would say, in terms of a big move for that position, it’s probably more realistic that that would be something that comes in the offseason. But Luka will be at the center of that, as we build for the long term.”

According to Amick, the Lakers have been in touch with the Rockets about big man Steven Adams, who is on an expiring $12.6MM contract. There’s no momentum toward an agreement, but the fact that Los Angeles is eyeing players like Adams reflects Pelinka’s comments about potentially targeting a stop-gap option for now and making a bigger move in the summer, Amick notes.

Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber, both of whom have $11MM cap hits this season and are under contract for one more year, are being shopped as the Lakers look for a center, per Amick. However, Kleber’s salary can’t be aggregated for matching purposes prior to Thursday’s deadline, which may rule out the possibility of acquiring a player like Clint Capela ($22.3MM), Amick adds.

Here’s more on the Lakers:

Doncic, who has been out since Christmas Day due to a calf strain, will go through a 5-on-5 scrimmage on Wednesday and is considered day-to-day, with his return not far off, Pelinka told reporters on Tuesday (Twitter link via Buha). Shams Charania of ESPN said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show (Twitter video link) that there’s optimism Doncic could make his Lakers debut on Saturday vs. Indiana.
Markieff Morris, one of the players who was traded from Dallas to L.A. along with Doncic, said the recent criticism about Doncic’s conditioning is “disrespectful,” according to Buha (Twitter link). Doncic, meanwhile, said those reports out of Dallas will serve as significant motivation for him going forward, tweets ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The Lakers are incorporating Doncic’s sports performance team into their training staff, Pelinka said today (Twitter link via McMenamin). There has been reporting this week indicating that Doncic’s personal performance team was a source in frustration in Dallas due to poor communication between them and the Mavs.
The other new Laker, Kleber, said he’ll be reevaluated in eight weeks after recently undergoing surgery on his broken right foot (Twitter link via Buha). That assessment will determine whether or not he’s able to return to the court this season.

Scotto’s Latest: DFS, Grimes, Kleber, Toppin, Jazz

February 2nd, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Lakers‘ acquisition of Luka Doncic in the three-team blockbuster with the Mavericks and Jazz could improve their odds of retaining veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Scotto previously reported that Finney-Smith was expected to decline his $15.4MM option for next season in order to enter unrestricted free agency. Doncic and Finney-Smith, who was acquired from the Nets this season, are close friends. Doncic will undoubtedly lobby the Lakers’ front office to retain Finney-Smith, Scotto notes.

Here’s more from Scotto:

The Mavericks‘ acquisition of young guard Max Christie along with Anthony Davis in the trade could impact Quentin Grimes‘ status with the organization. Grimes, who reportedly declined a three-year rookie scale extension offer prior to the October deadline, has become a key contributor, averaging 10.2 points per game while shooting 46.7% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc. He’ll become eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Christie is signed through 2027/28, including a player option.
Prior to adding current injured Maxi Kleber to the Doncic deal, the Mavericks held exploratory talks involving Kleber with the Pacers. Dallas had its eyes on power forward Obi Toppin. Kleber is signed through the 2025/26 season and if he’s not dealt again prior to Thursday’s deadline, he’ll become a more valuable trade asset for the Lakers in the offseason when he’ll have an expiring $11MM contract.
The Jazz, who facilitated the Doncic/Davis trade, are expected to remain active ahead of the trade deadline. Utah is looking to flip veteran forward P.J. Tucker, who was acquired from the Clippers on Saturday, for another team’s salary dump to land more future draft assets. Tucker will be bought out of his $11.54MM contract if he’s not traded. John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, and Collin Sexton have all come up in trade discussions. Walker Kessler has also drawn interest but the Jazz’s high price tag makes it unlikely he’ll be dealt this week.

Luka Doncic To Lakers, Anthony Davis To Mavs In Three-Team Trade

February 2nd, 2025 at 9:14am CST by Arthur Hill

February 2: The trade is now official, according to a press release from the Mavericks.

“We are thankful for Luka and grateful for his efforts during his time with us,” stated general manager Nico Harrison. “He helped build this team and was an integral part of the success we’ve seen throughout the years, including our recent NBA Finals run, along with Maxi and Markieff who are veteran voices equally valued across this team.

“This is a new chapter, and we are excited to welcome Anthony and Max to the fold. AD is an experienced veteran, who can play both ends of the floor while helping elevate us defensively. He knows first-hand what it takes to win, and I know he’s motivated to be a part of what we’re building in Dallas.”

February 1: The Lakers are acquiring superstar Luka Doncic in a stunning blockbuster trade that will send Anthony Davis to the Mavericks as part of a three-team deal involving Utah, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

L.A. will also receive Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while Max Christie and the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2029 are headed to Dallas.

The Jazz will take on the salary of second-year Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino while receiving two 2025 second-round picks, one from the Mavericks and one that originally belonged to the Clippers (via the Lakers).

Utah will also send $55K in cash to both the Lakers and Mavericks, a source tells Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link).

It’s one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, to the extent that Charania had to publish multiple tweets after breaking the news confirming that it’s real, while other reporters verified that he hadn’t been hacked. It’s the first time in league history that two players who earned All-NBA honors have been traded for each other during the following season, per ESPN.

There had been no indication that the Mavs were looking to part with Doncic or that the Lakers’ front office was considering breaking up Davis’ long-time partnership with LeBron James, who was surprised by news of the deal and didn’t know it was in the works, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

“I believe that defense wins championships,” Dallas president of basketball operations Nico Harrison told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon in explaining his motivation. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”

Doncic did not request a trade, sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link). The Mavericks simply liked the return from L.A. enough to part with their franchise player, who was “stunned” when he was informed of the trade, Charania said during an appearance on SportsCenter (Twitter video link).

Doncic would have become eligible during the 2025 offseason for a record-setting super-max contract projected to be worth $345MM over five years. According to MacMahon, Dallas had concerns about making that commitment due to Doncic’s diet and conditioning, which the team believes have been major factors contributing to his injuries over the years.

Sources tell Charania that the Mavericks initiated the deal, while the Lakers believed it was in their best long-term interest to give up Davis, who will turn 32 next month, to acquire the 25-year-old Doncic, who could be the face of the franchise for the next decade.

Doncic will no longer be eligible to sign a super-max contract in Los Angeles, since that option comes off the table once a player is traded. That means his next deal figures to start at 30% of the 2026/27 cap instead of 35%. The exact amount of that contract will depend on when he signs it and how many years it covers, but it would max out at about $296MM over five years rather than $345MM.

Dallas contacted several teams this week to see if they were willing to reroute salary in a potential three-team deal, sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link). While several teams had an indication that the Mavericks were working on something, no one else had any idea that it involved Doncic, Fischer adds.

Doncic has been sidelined since Christmas Day when he suffered a left calf strain in a game against Minnesota. He had been expected to return soon, and John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 tweets that Dallas was preparing for him to play next Saturday.

Doncic has a been a franchise-changing talent since the Mavericks traded up for the opportunity to select him in the 2018 draft. After winning Rookie of the Year honors, he was a first-team All-NBA selection and finished in the top eight of MVP balloting in each of the next five seasons, including third in 2024. He’s not eligible for individual awards this year because of the strained calf and other ailments that have limited him to 22 games.

Davis is one of the top big men in the league and helped the Lakers capture the 2020 title in his first season with the team. The eight-time All-Star is currently sidelined with an abdominal strain, but he has been remarkably durable over the last two years despite a history of injuries. He has appeared in 42 of L.A.’s 47 games this season after playing 76 in 2023/24.

Davis is looking forward to joining the Mavericks, according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape (Twitter link). He has a history with Harrison from their days together at Nike, and his long-time preference to play power forward rather than center will be less of an issue in Dallas with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively on the roster.

Davis has agreed to waive his 15% trade bonus, which would have been worth $5.9MM, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes and Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter links). That decision leaves the Mavericks $628K below the luxury tax line — they were $5.1MM above the tax threshold before the deal, Marks notes.

Davis’ current maximum-salary contract will pay him a projected $112.6MM over the next two seasons after this one, with a $62.8MM player option for 2027/28.

Because they’re not sending anyone out in the trade, the Jazz will have to open a roster spot before they can acquire Hood-Schifino, points out salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link). That’s likely to happen by waiving or reaching a buyout with P.J. Tucker or Mohamed Bamba, both of whom were acquired from the Clippers in a deal earlier on Saturday.

Gozlan states that Hood-Schifino will be absorbed into Utah’s $8MM room exception, leaving the team $16.7MM below the tax line after Saturday’s dealings. The 21-year-old guard may get a greater opportunity to play with the Jazz after appearing in just two games this season and 23 total since being selected with the 17th pick in the 2023 draft.

Christie could be a valuable addition for Dallas, as he has blossomed into a solid rotation player during this third NBA season. He’s in the first season of a four-year, $32MM contract that he signed last summer as a restricted free agent.

Kleber suffered a broken right foot last weekend, so he won’t provide any immediate help to the Lakers. The 33-year-old big man is under contract for one more year at $11MM. Morris, a 35-year-old power forward, has an expiring veteran’s minimum contract.

Tristan Tucker and Luke Adams contributed to this story.