The 2025 NBA Playoffs are getting closer for the Los Angeles Lakers, and ahead of their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the California team is preparing a star reinforcement.

He’s already training with LeBron James! The Lakers finished third in the Western Conference with a record of 50 wins and 32 losses, but one of the key weaknesses exposed during the regular season was a lack of depth at the center position.

Following Anthony Davis’ departure in the trade that brought in Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers were left with Jaxson Hayes as the only big man capable of making a significant impact on both offense and defense. However, there’s good news—because that’s about to change in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

The Lakers will begin their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, April 19 at 8:30 PM ET, and to go up against Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and company, a star reinforcement could make his return during the series.
He hasn’t played since January 25, and arrived in Los Angeles as part of the Doncic trade deal.

👉 The star reinforcement the Lakers could activate for the NBA Playoffs

Jaden McDaniels and Maxi Kleber. (Photo: Getty Images)

After the Los Angeles Lakers’ first practice ahead of their 2025 NBA Playoffs debut, Maxi Kleber was seen shooting three-pointers—just months after undergoing surgery on January 30 for a fractured right foot.
Head coach JJ Redick did not provide a timeline for his return, but the reality is that the California team is already preparing him for a potential role in the postseason.

Anthony Edwards’ warning to LeBron and Doncic ahead of Lakers vs. Wolves

With the goal of staying focused on the game—the same game that allowed him to average 27.6 points per game during the regular season—and avoiding any ejections during the series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Edwards sent a clear message to LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and company:

“I love the fact that everyone wants the Lakers to win—that’s how it’s supposed to be. They don’t want the Timberwolves to win, I get it (…) I won’t get any technicals, I won’t say anything. I’ll be very quiet.”