The Lakers’ rotation has been in flux all season, and it appears that this trend may continue with players becoming available. Adou Thiero and Maxi Kleber are two players who could force their way into real playing time. Their performances were meaningful, and they immediately changed how the coaching staff will evaluate the bench moving forward.
According to NBA insider Jovan Buha, Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero could move ahead of a couple of players in the rotation.
“I think Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero are real competition here for Jaxson Hayes and to a greater extent Jarred Vanderbilt, and then maybe to a lesser extent Dalton Knecht… None of those guys have locked in roles right now and I think all those guys are susceptible to having someone snatch their chain.”
The end of the bench rotation is wide open, and the pressure is now coming from players who were barely on the radar weeks ago.
Adou Thiero: The Best Athlete
Thiero’s impact came quickly. In a handful of minutes, he flashed defensive intensity, vertical pop, and a level of physical engagement the Lakers desperately need off the bench. He contested shots, attacked the rim, and played like someone who belongs in the mix now, not months from now.
For a rookie returning from a long absence, the confidence and poise were impossible to miss. His athletic profile fills gaps the roster hasn’t been able to patch consistently.
It’s an extremely small sample size, and we shouldn’t project too much on a rookie that’s played 5 total minutes of professional basketball. But if this trajectory continues, he could definitely be an important part of the Lakers’ rotation.
Maxi Kleber: The Steady Option
Kleber didn’t dominate statistically, but he brought something more valuable: stability. His screens were crisp, his rotations clean, and his short-roll decisions sharp. The second unit looked calmer and more organized with him on the floor, and the coaching staff rewarded that by playing him ahead of both Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes in the stretches that mattered.
That kind of trust doesn’t happen by chance. Maxi provided the reliable presence that the bench has been missing. He’s a veteran who does the small things correctly and doesn’t sabotage possessions. He’s also their best option for stretching the floor from the 5 position, something head coach JJ Redick values a lot.
The Rotation Just Got Crowded
With key players returning soon, minutes will tighten. But Kleber and Thiero didn’t just earn a look — they created a real battle. Every end-of-rotation player has flaws, but with Vanderbilt, Hayes, and Knecht, those flaws are louder and seem to show up more often than the positives they bring.
Adou Thiero and Maxi Kleber may or may not make the rotation, but at the very least, they are making it a competition again.
