It’s officially only one more draft to go until the number one son of the self proclaimed King of the Court, LBJ, enters the NBA. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t by itself be newsworthy at this time of the year but, since LeBron himself has said he will join the team that drafts Bronny. Under normal circumstances, what team a 40 year old basketball player wants to play for isn’t newsworthy at all, but this is LeBron James and he has kept himself fit.
So it is worthy to take a few paragraphs and consider where the dynamic duo might end up. Certainly, LeBron is no longer the best player in the game after 20 campaigns, but he is still a force on a good team. Will he be in another 2 years? “I’m not as good as I was once, but I’m as good once as I ever was,” is likely the refrain you will begin to hear before too long in reference to LeBron’s Talents. And sure, Bronny is not likely the most talented (or motivated) son in the James household, but still, it’s summer and the news cycle is so low you could trip over it so let’s take a look at the teams with a chance of signing Bronny and getting LeBron thrown in for nothing, or next to nothing.
LA Lakers: Yes
29 other teams: No
If that sounds like a prediction, well, it just seems more like common sense. Certainly, I have no one inside the Lakers feeding me information, let me make that clear. Yes, I understand that the gambling community has set the odds of that happening at +1500 but they are wrong. If I was a gambling man, I’d take that wager and make $15 for my dollar bet because it’s going to happen unless something seismic happens. What do I mean seismic? I mean career ending injury or Jeannie Buss selling the Lakers seismic, that’s what I mean. Otherwise,it’s Bron and Bronny in the starting lineup in 2024-25.
Why do I say this? For a number of reasons, even though the Lakers may not have a 1st round draft pick in 2024 due to a deal with Pelicans which gave the Pels the option to take the Laker’s 2024 or 2025 first rounder. But it won’t matter. LeBron is the de facto GM for the Lakers and he will do whatever it takes to secure Bronny on the Lakers because LeBron loves LA and does not want to move, even for a season.
Of course the GM on paper is Rob Pelinka and the owner is Jeannie Buss but it won’t matter. This is Rob’s dream job and he won’t risk it for anything. If LeBron wants a pick for Bronny, he’ll arrange a pick for Bronny and if that fails, whatever sort of trade is required to pry Bronny away from whatever team drafts him.
Given Jeannie Buss’s regard for loyalty, she will approve whatever LeBron needs to stay with the organization, a place in the front office is almost assured after he retires. But it won’t be some work-a-day job that requires LeBron to be there Monday through Friday, 9-5. No, it’ll be as a special ambassador, similar to Magic Johnson, allowing LeBron to search for himself on the ocean coast.
No other team has a shot unless they simply want to spoil LeBron’s party. Bronny really isn’t that good that many teams would want the sideshow that comes with and honestly, I don’t believe there are many right thinking front offices across the NBA that really believe a 41 year old LeBron would be a fit for their long term goals. So remember to tell everyone that you heard it here first, Bronny to the Lakers in 2024!