Over the weekend, Bronny James found himself as the subject of trade speculation. Sean Deveney of Heavy suggested the Los Angeles Lakers guard should not be ruled out from potential relocation in the team's efforts to get the roster down to 15. Oddly enough, it was for all the right reasons, though.
Deveney claimed an executive said: “There’s definitely interest there. He’s gotten much better in a short period. He knows his role, and it’s hard to find young guys who just want to excel in their role.”
The truth in what Deveney wrote is tough to gauge. There are certainly far more reliable sources to turn to for intel across NBA circles. All the same, this should be a pat on the back moment for both Bronny and the Lakers organization.
No one should be unfamiliar with the scrutiny that came from James' selection at 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. It was an unprecedented amount of hoopla for someone taken that late. That was mostly due to who his father was. The focus on Bronny is now positively shifting to who he is trying to be.
Bronny James keeps distancing himself from LeBron
Let us weigh the implications of whether the rumor is real or fake.
If it is true, that means there is an executive out there who believes James has become a good enough player in two years to warrant positive trade capital. For a guy whose skeptics called him a nepotism hire, that is a big shift in perception. Bronny's stock is on the rise.
Why would that not be the case? James' hard-working nature has been a regular talking point coming out of Los Angeles. The desire to be more than LeBron's son has always been clear, and his loudest critics have chosen to ignore that willingly. The Lakers guard wants a role in the NBA on his own merit.
What team would not want a player with that mindset?
If the rumor is fake, at least what is being made up has nothing to do with Bronny simply following LeBron to the Philadelphia 76ers. Every good lie has some truth to it. Here, that has to do with James being a desirable addition for teams not employing his father.
Bronny should have a future in Los Angeles. JJ Redick highlighted him as a part of the offensive plans for when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves need to be split up. Should the day come when the Lakers do want to move on, there should be positive value to gain from that decision.
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