The Lakers are very open to drafting Bronny James but it is not for the right reasons
The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the postseason and will now shift their focus to an offseason likely centered around LeBron James.
After winning a championship with the Lakers in 2020, the four-time NBA Finals MVP can potentially become a free agent this offseason. Meanwhile, his son Bronny James recently declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and he will soon decide if he will turn pro.
Bronny will also enter the NCAA transfer portal and all options, including even playing next season at Duquesne in Pittsburgh, are on the table. But it seems increasingly likely that Los Angeles would select Bronny should he decide to stay in the draft.
Here is the latest reporting suggesting as much (via The Athletic):
“What’s more, team sources say the Lakers are very open to the prospect of helping LeBron fulfill his dream of playing with his son Bronny by potentially drafting him.”
It is hardly a secret that LeBron James hopes to eventually play alongside his son in the NBA.
LeBron has a fascinating player option in his contract that would allow him to either stay with the Lakers or become a free agent and join whatever NBA team potentially drafts his son if Los Angeles did not.
While we don’t have Bronny as a projected first-round pick in our latest mock draft, it makes sense that the Lakers would select the former USC guard so as to entice LeBron to stay in Los Angeles.
We already knew that the Lakers were “willing to explore the notion” of adding Bronny, per The Athletic. He is still on “multiple” draft boards, via ESPN.
But using a draft pick on Bronny just to keep LeBron happy isn’t exactly the wisest strategy for roster construction.