Lakers willing to draft Bronny James?

LeBron James is once again facing an uncertain future after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, but the team is reportedly willing to make the one move that might guarantee LeBron’s return.

The Lakers saw their season end with a 108-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of the first round playoff series between the two teams on Monday night. LeBron said afterward that he was focused on family and would not answer whether he expects to be back with the Lakers in 2024-25. James also mentioned how his son Bronny is “trying to decide if he’s going to enter the draft or go back to school.”

If Bronny does decide to turn pro, the Lakers are willing to give the 19-year-old an opportunity to play alongside his father. According to a story from Sam Amick, Jovan Buh and Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Lakers are “very open” to helping LeBron fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA with his son.

The Athletic also reports that the Lakers want LeBron back “badly.” The elder James has a player option on his contract for next season that he is expected to decline. LeBron could potentially use his free agency as a means of pressuring L.A. or some other team to draft Bronny. Sources told The Athletic that the Lakers are willing to draft Bronny and give LeBron as much as a three-year, $164 million max contract extension.

Bronny averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game over 25 contests with USC last season. He had a big setback before the year when he suffered a cardiac arrest, but he has fully recovered from that. The fact that he did not play all that well in his first college season might make it easier for the Lakers to draft him, as there will be less competition.

There is said to be one Eastern Conference team that might make a run at signing LeBron and drafting Bronny, but LeBron would almost certainly prefer to play with his son in L.A.