The Los Angeles Lakers seem to have fallen into a rough patch after flying high for the last month, losing their third straight game with a 106-126 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers are playing shorthanded basketball right now with key contributors like LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes out with injury.
Hayes is the only real center option for the Lakers, and his absence is forcing the team to rely on winter signing Alex Len right now. Len has been bad for the Lakers, and Reggie Miller ruthlessly called out his lack of impact on TNT commentary.
“(Alex) Len, he’s not guarding anyone, he’s not scoring, he’s not rebounding. Go small if you’re the Lakers.”
Reggie Miller:
“(Alex) Len, he’s not guarding anyone, he’s not scoring, he’s not rebounding. Go small.”
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 14, 2025
Len has averaged 1.0 point and 2.3 rebounds in six games for the Lakers since joining in February. He’s just been an overall bad signing, with the franchise potentially being better off with a healthy Christian Wood in that role instead of Len. It was a big miss of a signing, but the Lakers didn’t really have any other options at the position.
The team knew how important having a high-level center can be with a point guard like Doncic, which is why they acquired Mark Williams. However, that deal was rescinded due to Williams’ failing his medical, leaving the Lakers with a massive hole they couldn’t fill mid-season.
The Lakers are legitimately praying that forgotten acquisition Maxi Kleber returns to the court healthy enough to give them quality minutes. Kleber was a rotational player on the Mavericks for over half a decade but injury struggles in recent seasons have greatly slowed him down.
Kleber has averaged 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 34 games this season. When healthy, he promises to be a capable five-man, a switchable option, and a three-point shooter.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t look like a very willing shooter nowadays, averaging just 1.4 attempts this season. Many speculated it was a confidence issue at the time, but if Kleber is letting them fly, he’d be a massive upgrade over Len instantly.
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