Report: Lakers ‘Very Open’ To Drafting Bronny James So LeBron James Can Play With Him

According to NBA insiders Shams Charania, Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers are “very open” to drafting Bronny James so LeBron James can play with his son. 

Bronny has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft while retaining his college eligibility. He has also entered the transfer portal.

“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,” Charania, Buha and Amick wrote. 

Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks for USC this season while shooting 36.6% from the field, 26.7% from beyond the arc and 67.6% from the free-throw line. 

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers, who lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. 

LeBron, who turns 40 in December, is expected to play up to two more NBA seasons. He has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season. Two more seasons would take LeBron through the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

LeBron appeared in 71 games for the Lakers this season. He averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line. 

“As for his father, the Lakers want him back — badly — and the potential of the 39-year-old LeBron returning remains the most likely scenario,” Charania, Buha and Amick wrote. “Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, in particular, believes James’ return is of paramount importance to their plan. This franchise has always been buoyed by the stars, and James’ ability to still play at an elite level at his advanced age has only strengthened the desire to have him retire in a purple-and-gold jersey one day. And after six seasons together in which there has been no shortage of ups and downs, Buss and James, team sources say, have a relationship that is better than ever these days.”

LeBron joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018. LA missed the playoffs in Year 1, won the title in Year 2, lost in the first round of the playoffs in Year 3, missed the playoffs in Year 4, lost in the conference finals in Year 5 and lost in the first round of the postseason in Year 6.