Hapoel Tel Aviv Targets Maxi Kleber to Strengthen Interior Game

Hapoel Tel Aviv continues to pursue ambitious moves in the transfer market. The Israeli club, one of EuroLeague's most well-funded projects, has reportedly initiated contact with Maxi Kleber, a 6'10" German power forward with NBA experience.

According to ONE, the player is currently a free agent and appears as an interesting option to strengthen the interior rotation under head coach Dimitris Itoudis. Kleber comes off a season with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had a reduced role: 2 points and 2 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game across 43 games.

His recent numbers are not impressive, but his value goes beyond statistics. Kleber is an interior defender capable of guarding multiple positions, switching on screens, protecting near the rim from positioning, and spacing the floor on offense when his outside shot is falling. He doesn't need much ball movement to be useful, something important in a roster with so many offensive weapons.

On a team with playmakers like Vasilije Micic and Tomas Satoransky, his pick-and-pop threat could make sense. Kleber can pull his defender away from the paint, create space for penetrations, and allow for more spread-out lineups. He would also fit alongside more physical big men like Daniel Oturu or Tai Odiase, playing as a stretch four.

The delicate part is his physical condition. Kleber has had injury issues in recent years and doesn't appear to be a player capable of handling heavy minutes. He's also not an offensive creator or a dominant post player. If his three-pointer isn't falling, his offensive impact drops significantly.

That's why his possible arrival would make more sense as a complementary piece than as a star signing. Used correctly, he can provide Hapoel with defense, experience, spacing, and tactical versatility. A player for specific matchups, to close out physical lineups, and to elevate the competitive level in big games.

Hapoel wouldn't be looking at Kleber as a primary option, but rather as a crafty big man to tie pieces together around their stars.