Less than 24 hours ago, Bronny James' salary for the 2026-27 season became fully guaranteed after the Los Angeles Lakers let the deadline pass without waiving him. A large part of the reason behind that decision could've been (was probably) LeBron James, as Rob Pelinka already made it clear the team hoped to re-sign the 41-year-old. Well, about that.
As Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Tuesday, LeBron informed the Lakers this morning that he will sign elsewhere in free agency. The insider added that James told LA before free agency, which officially begins at 3 p.m. PT today, out of "courtesy and appreciation" for their eight years together.
After eight seasons with the Lakers, including leading the franchise to the 2020 NBA championship, James departs and enters free agency set to join a new team.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026
Lakers president Rob Pelinka and Rich Paul spoke a short time ago about the four-time champion's plans, sources said.… https://t.co/QPwbkJi9OJ
It probably isn't that big a coincidence that LeBron waited to do so after his son's contract for next season became fully guaranteed, but that doesn't mean Los Angeles can't or won't trade the 21-year-old.
LeBron informs Lakers that he will sign elsewhere in free agency
NBA insider Marc Stein reported shortly after Charania broke the news about LeBron that the Warriors are at the top of the list for the superstar. That's no surprise, especially not after Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option for next season on Monday to give Golden State more financial flexibility.
The Warriors are at the front of the line in pursuit of LeBron James in free agency and league sources tell @TheSteinLine that Golden State is not operating as though it has a mandate to also pursue an Anthony Davis trade.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2026
More from @JakeLFischer and me: https://t.co/K2otdALX1K https://t.co/2yJuBp0sIS
If LeBron does make the switch to Northern California, does that mean that the Warriors will try to pursue Bronny? Stein said that LeBron and Anthony Davis aren't a package deal, contrary to what ESPN reported on Monday, but maybe he and his son are.
The ball will be in Los Angeles' court since Bronny is under contract for at least one more season, as he has a $2.5 million team option for 2027-28. If the Lakers believe he can truly develop into a regular NBA rotation player, they could hold on to him, and even if they decide to trade him (if there is genuine interest from another team), there is no guarantee he will end up in San Francisco.
Lakers could change their stance on Bronny James
When Los Angeles drafted Bronny with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the assumption was that the team only did so because of his father. That was even more so the case when the Lakers signed him to a multi-year deal shortly after.
He's coming off his second season at the professional level, averaging 8.9 minutes across 42 games, up from the 6.7 minutes he averaged in 27 contests as a rookie.
JJ Redick said before the 2026 playoffs started that Bronny had improved a lot and said he needed to be ready for his number to be called, in reference to the Lakers being shorthanded in the postseason. The younger James averaged just 5.3 minutes per contest across the eight games he appeared in.
Perhaps the Lakers still see something in Bronny, enough to keep him around. It would give him the chance to prove himself without being as attached to LeBron. Or Los Angeles' main motivation behind guaranteeing his salary could've been under the assumption that his father would be back for the 2026-27 season.
That doesn't matter now that LeBron is on his way out, but if that were the case, it's too late now, meaning Bronny could stay with the Lakers, but that's far from a guarantee after today's news.
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