'Max-Value' Maxi Kleber or Dud Contract?

Unlike the previous Dallas Mavericks front office, Nico Harrison hasn't stuck with the same roster for longer than necessary. The team is as different as it's looked in years. Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell remain the only players from before the Mavs drafted Luka Doncic. Considering Kleber's contract, is he the next in line for a potential trade, or does his on-court value compensate for what he's paid?

Before the likes of Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshal, and Daniel Gafford, Dallas depended on Kleber to defend the best players. Recently, during the Doncic era, Kleber's defense shut down players like Zion Williamson. Kleber recorded five blocks in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, three of which came at the expense of Williamson.

Although casual basketball NBA fans might know Kleber for his 3-point shot, defense is where he's hung his hat over the years.

Recently, though, the stretch in stretch five has virtually left Kleber. Aside from his shooting struggle in the playoffs last spring, when he returned from a shoulder injury, Kleber shot below average from behind the 3-point line for the past three seasons. With a mixed bag of shotty confidence and a lack of execution, Kleber doesn't command the respect of defenses as in past years.

However, at 32, his defense hasn't taken the same dip in production.

According to Synergy Sports, Kleber is still a remarkable defender. He influences his defensive assignments to record a well-below-league average 42 effective field goal percentage. If you want old-fashioned stats, he forced a 35.9 conversion rate from the field last season.

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Kleber has two years left on his deal at $11 million annually. Despite waning shooting metrics, such a contract doesn't make Kleber a deficient player; he merely takes up seven percent of the cap.

Moreover, his defensive efforts and metrics allow Jason Kidd to insert Kleber into situational lineups. Kleber is still liable to hit an occasional timely 3-point shot. In past CBAs, Kleber's contract would appear as a liability; now, it's just a number that could be used in a trade for filler.

Although Kleber's spot on the roster has yet to be solidified, his contract shouldn't become a talking point about why he doesn't belong on the Mavericks.