‘Forget 2nd-round evaluations’: NBA teams still discussing idea of drafting Bronny to lure LeBron

One of the most intriguing storylines of the upcoming offseason is which team will select Bronny James in the draft because it could play a role in the future of his father, LeBron.

There have been lots of reports on whether the elder James plans to play alongside his son.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski revealed a few weeks ago that the father-and-son duo suiting up together is no longer a priority, with the four-time MVP seemingly intent on remaining with the Los Angeles Lakers. League insider Marc Stein also reported earlier this month that all the signals are pointing to the superstar continuing to play for the Purple and Gold beyond this season.

However, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times appears to have heard from some NBA executives that franchises are still discussing the idea of drafting the younger James to lure his father.

“Forget second-round evaluations, multiple NBA executives told The Times their teams have discussed drafting Bronny James in the first round in an effort to lure his father to their team in free agency,” Woike wrote.

“‘If you’re a contender and you’re not having those conversations, it’s irresponsible,’ said one executive, who like other NBA personnel spoke on condition of anonymity because teams don’t share their draft strategy.”

The 19-year-old prospect seems determined to make a name for himself, even if it has remained a tall task. Measuring in at the combine at just over 6-foot-1 in socks, he has had some pundits worried about his capacity to carve a niche for himself in the league.

It’s worth noting that the younger James has impressed some with his wingspan, vertical and potential on the defensive end of the floor. Still, questions surrounding his outside shot and marginal abilities to get into the paint might dissuade teams from taking a flyer on him.

But ultimately, the idea of landing a star of the elder James’ caliber might be enough for some front offices to risk bringing in the younger James.

At 39 years old, the four-time NBA champion has proven to still be one of the best in the sport. He finished the 2023-24 regular season averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the field and 41.0 percent from deep.

He continued to perform admirably in the playoffs, even as the Lakers lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. The 20-time All-Star recorded 27.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists per contest in the series. He also had a field-goal percentage of 56.6 and chipped in 2.4 steals per match.

Clearly, the future Hall of Famer still has plenty left in the tank and could demand attention in free agency should he opt to leave Los Angeles at some point.