The NBA draft is approaching, and one player who has garnered a lot of attention is Bronny James, the son of LeBron James. Despite a lackluster freshman season at USC, the Los Angeles Lakers are still interested in drafting him.
The Lakers are interested in drafting Bronny James, per @ShamsCharania
"They do have interest in bringing Bronny in as a draft pick."
(Via @PatMcAfeeShow ) pic.twitter.com/aPOzDnjmNR
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 10, 2024
LeBron has expressed his desire to play with his son in the NBA, and with his contract extension negotiations underway, signing Bronny would give him another reason to stay in LA. While Bronny"s performance at USC was not exceptional, many believe he has defensive skills that could shine in the league.
"LeBron James wants to play up to two more seasons and obviously the Lakers want to bring him back… They do have interest in bringing Bronny [James] in as a draft pick."
Shams speaks on Bronny's possible future in LA 👀
(via @PatMcAfeeShow)pic.twitter.com/GXkJekytgB
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 10, 2024
Beyond his connection to his famous father, Bronny could bring value to the Lakers. The James family has been in the spotlight recently, especially since the Lakers were eliminated early in the playoffs. According to reports, LeBron wants to play up to two more NBA seasons, and there is an assumption that the Lakers want to bring him back.
They are even considering drafting Bronny in the second round to keep LeBron around longer. However, Bronny"s own journey to the NBA has been challenging due to a heart incident last summer that affected his USC tenure. Despite his struggles, being the son of LeBron helps him in the scouting process.
Fans reacted as follows:
Just to keep Lebron they throwing the future
— RJ Trader (@rj_trading1) May 10, 2024
The Lakers is slowly but surely becoming the most unserious organization in basketball.
— I have so many questions? (@english_shamar) May 10, 2024
Im curious as to why wouldn’t the lakers try to keep their most productive player on the team. AD is 30 & letting bron go just means tanking
— Red 🥱 (@LeakTheProblem) May 10, 2024
Conclusion
The Lakers are willing to give LeBron any contract he wants, showing their commitment to him. While they are considering drafting Bronny, it is unlikely that he is NBA-ready at this point, and starting in the G-League may be a better option. Drafting him too early would not be wise if it hampers his development. The Lakers have many factors to consider this offseason, including their coaching staff search.
