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In recent days, the news that Bronny James has announced his participation in the 2024 NBA Draft has caused a stir among experts across the league. Many predictions have been made about the team that Bronny James will join, in the context that he has convinced scouts.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, they are definitely the team that wants to own Bronny James the most in the NBA. The biggest reason is because LeBron James once declared that he wants to play with his son for a season, regardless of which team he plays for.
LeBron James’ contract with the Lakers has 1 year left to extend in the 2024/25 season, but the 39-year-old superstar has not yet activated this. However, the Los Angeles Lakers can completely keep LeBron James by simply selecting Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft.
In this article, The Sporting News will examine the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of acquiring Bronny James in this summer’s draft.
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Los Angeles Lakers Picks in the 2024 NBA Draft
The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have many options in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Lakers’ first-round pick is currently owned by the New Orleans Pelicans after the Anthony Davis trade in 2019.
However, there is a special clause in this Pick, when the New Orleans Pelicans can choose to switch to the 2025 NBA Draft. Looking at the fact that the 2024 class of players does not have many outstanding names, the Pelicans can completely wait until next summer and return the 1st round Pick of the 2024 NBA Draft to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers’ second round pick is now owned by the San Antonio Spurs after a series of complicated trades. However, the Lakers are not empty-handed in the second round, as they still have the Los Angeles Clippers’ pick.
- Lakers 2024 1st Round Pick: Owned by the New Orleans Pelicans, could move to the 2025 NBA Draft.
- Lakers 2024 2nd Round Pick: Owned by San Antonio Spurs.
- Clippers 2024 2nd Round Pick: Owned by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Predicting Bronny James’s chances of being selected in the 2024 NBA Draft
Before the 2023/24 season, Bronny James was rated quite well. Some predictions even said that the eldest James could rise from Pick 25th to 30th place.
However, after a season without leaving any mark, Bronny James was no longer mentioned in the 60 predictions for the 2024 NBA Draft. Not to mention, concerns about Bronny’s cardiac arrest at the beginning of the season also made many teams not dare to risk choosing this player.
But with the 2024 NBA Draft still more than two months away, Bronny James still has a chance. If he can impress in practice sessions or the Draft Combine, Bronny could very well be among the players selected in the 2024 NBA Draft.
LeBron James’ contract
In August 2022, LeBron James signed a two-year, $99 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the contract includes an option to extend based on the player’s decision during the 2024/25 season. This means that LeBron James can completely activate this clause to stay with the Lakers, or become a free agent in the summer of 2024.
This move is because LeBron James wants to wait and see what happens to Bronny James before the 2024 NBA Draft. If the Lakers choose Bronny, LeBron James will activate the extension. If it were another team, it is likely that the 39-year-old star would join that team as a free agent.
