Lakers reportedly will not likely draft Bronny James, prefer to trade pick
Bronny James might have a future in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean it will be as a Laker via this year’s draft.
The Lakers have many decisions to make this offseason, including doing whatever it takes to keep LeBron James happy and in Los Angeles.
With James reportedly opting out and looking for a new deal, the Lakers have to ensure he’s pleased with the team's direction and this moment where he becomes a free agent doesn’t turn into him leaving the Lakers.
Could the Lakers use one of this year's draft picks to select Bronny James, his son, in an attempt to keep LeBron in the purple and gold?
It’s possible, but ESPN's Dave McMenamin discussed this topic on the Rich Eisen Show and sees it as unlikely.
“I don’t think so. If you look at the Lakers, they have the No. 17 pick in the first round, the No. 55 pick in the second round. If Bronny James stays in the NBA Draft, he’s not going to be drafted in the range of 17 and he’s going to be off the board by 55. With the true value of the 17th pick being a potential trade asset for the Lakers being able to move three first round picks on draft night potentially to acquire a big name ready to perform, someone on the level of Dejounte Murray or Trae Young or Donovan Mitchell. That pick will certainly not be used on anyone if they have their druthers and it wouldn’t be used on Bronny James. Quite frankly, if you listen to LeBron’s messaging really over the last year-and-a-half, it hasn’t been ‘I need to play with my son,’ it’s been ‘I need to share the NBA court with my son’ and that can happen as an opponent.”
This update from McMenamin aligns with the sentiments coming out of James’ camp over the past few months.
Yes, there were moments when LeBron mentioned playing with Bronny as “the ultimate dream,” but recently the reports have indicated James playing with his son is “no longer a priority.”
How good of a prospect Bronny is has been a topic of discussion since his high school days, but it’s clear there is interest in drafting him and the Lakers have been reportedly “willing to explore the notion.”
For Los Angeles the biggest issue is they need to improve now to compete for a title.
On draft night, L.A. will have three first round draft picks it could use in a trade. With the Lakers looking to be aggressive this offseason, the organization might use the resources at its disposal to invest in a star guard instead of a rookie.
We still have weeks to go before decisions are made regarding LeBron’s contract, the draft picks and potential trades, but one thing is for certain: the Lakers will aim to get better and this summer will be their best chance to do so.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.