Bronny James will be eligible for the draft in 2024, and LeBron James‘ desire to play with his son could affect his decision regarding an extension, as Joe Vardon of The Athletic explains. James, who could be an unrestricted free agent after next season, can sign a two-year, $98MM extension with the Lakers this offseason.
The easiest way for LeBron and Bronny to play together is for LeBron to be a member of the team that drafts Bronny. The Lakers will likely have to commit to doing what it takes to draft his son in order for an extension to be reached. Vardon, noting that L.A. doesn’t currently control its 2024 first-round pick, suggests that the team may have to consider a trade bringing in a ’24 first-rounder, even though Bronny doesn’t currently project as a first-round prospect.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Many veteran players who saw action for the Lakers last season are still unsigned. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin takes a look at those players, including Carmelo Anthony, Avery Bradley and Dwight Howard, and explores which teams might have an interest in them.
- A tweet from the Suns’ Jae Crowder created a stir, Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic notes. Crowder wrote “Change is inevitable.. Growth is optional.!! I believe its time for a change… I wanna continue growing!” That fueled speculation that he wants to be traded. Crowder is entering his walk year and has been the subject of trade rumors, particularly involving one of his former teams, the Heat. The Suns are above the tax line and might look to shed some salary.
- In case you missed it, Steve Kerr and Draymond Green played instrumental roles in convincing JaMychal Green to sign with the Warriors. Get the details here.
Who says Bronny is going in the first round?
Tell us. Who says Bronny is going in the first round 2 years from now? Who really cares. Who really cares, besides you, where he goes? That’s more like saying which Kardashian chick is hottest. For the record, Khloe is kinda lost it. Didn’t Kendall pop out a baby at 18…
The team that wants a 39 yr old Lebron James. That’s who.
Bronny isn’t even a G-League prospect at this point. If he wasn’t LeBron’s kid, he would be a low to mid-major college prospect.
Indeed, Bronny might not be a draftee at all. He can get in line with Scotty Pippen Jr and Ron Harper Jr
Surprise surprise most of the lakers roster from last season are still free agents
Ever since Lebron talked about going wherever his son is, I’ve been saying that I think I would take him #1 in the draft, even if he is actually complete garbage, and not an NBA player. You get Lebron James guaranteed, possibly even at a super discount price, pefhaps even at the minimum, depending on your cap situation? I’d have to at least seriously consider it, unless maybe there are certain top tier guys you cant pass up. Also depends what organization b/c being desperate obviously effects that
It would be cool if the bulls drafted bronny. Having Lebron finish his career on a team jordan made relevant would be kinda cool. Or even the hornets where he can play for jordan
Who does LBJ think he is that he can dictate that his son gets drafted?
To hell with him!!
Bronny will be drafted just for his father, but you never know if he can elevate his game later. Right now, he appears to be more important than Carmelo, Bradley, Howard and Crowder just to mention the names on this post. Imagine next year or when he joins with Lebron…it will be a daily conversation
How do they know Bronny will even enter the draft after 1 year? If he is not good enough to get drafted why wouldn’t he stay in school?
LAL should do what’s best for the franchise. There are 29 other teams that could eff with the father-son reunion plan or hold them over the barrel for the ’24 pick. Trade LeBron now and make it someone else’s problem.
Additionally, this is so contrived and almost soap-opera-like that it makes the NBA look like pro wrestling. Who wants to be part of that sh*tshow. IMO it damages the Lakers rep.
I likely scenario is that LeBron plays with Bronny in summer league.
tampering.
Even Jeanie isn’t going to allow the LAL franchise to be used as a prop in this kind of stunt. Draft the kid, maybe, assuming a basketball case can be credibly made. But trade into the 1st round to prevent some other team from drafting him in an effort to lure LBJ? Silly, and beyond.
BTW, if a team drafts him for the sole purpose of luring LBJ it’s really indirect $$ being paid to LBJ or at his direction. It’s a violation of the CBA. If Silver is worth anything (big if I know), then he needs to be clear that any team participating in this won’t have another 1st round pick for 10 years.
How is it indirect money? He says he will go to the team he ends up on, no matter what it takes, even in terms of taking a minimum deal, so if I know that, I take him to her Lebron. I dont see how that’s against the CBA. It’s like taking or jot taking a kid in the draft b/c they specifically didnt want to go there, as we’ve seen countless times, and if Lebron is a FA at that time, I dont see how that’s an issue..the one thing I could see being an issue is him talking about potentially going to other teams publicly, while under contract. That is against the CBA
Maybe I misunderstood
I think beyond silly is apt here
LeBron probably likes the extra spotlight on Jr today, Id bet good coin once Jr’s draft gets closer there’s going to be a whole new narrative set forth and it will one of Sr strong -arming Jr to a destination of his choice not the other way around. No way Sr leaving this up to chance, some shadiness in the shadows probably happens and probably with Silver’s behind the scenes blessing when it does as the marketing of the pairing only further enhances Adams NBA
C&C –
I agree. I hear LBJ’s statements as telling the LAL and any future suitors for his golden years that he’d look favorably upon them making a roster spot available for his son. Not designed to create a circus, where he effectively declares himself available to any team that drafts his son. I’m rarely impressed with LBJ, the person, particularly on the issue of emotional maturity. But, by all accounts, he’s a dutiful father. I doubt he wants to turn his kid into a punch line, for his own self aggrandizement.
Any involvement by Silver should be about discouraging other teams from turning one team’s gesture into a circus, by drafting the kid for reasons other than his basketball skills. The league shouldn’t use the kid either. I know Silver sees himself as league advocate general, but (I checked) he’s actually commissioner. Preventing silliness that’s bad for the league is actually his main job.