Bronny's future really may not be determined by LeBron if what he said is true

Apparently, Bronny James is stuck in the same boat as the rest of us, wondering which team LeBron James will sign with after informing the Los Angeles Lakers weeks ago he wouldn't be back in 2026-27. At least, that's what he made it sound like when approached by Instagram creator biggy22x, who asked if the 41-year-old is going to the Warriors, to which the younger James said:

"Man, I don't know where he's going. That would be crazy if he did."

So, the obvious thing here is that Bronny probably has an idea of where his father will end up, even if he doesn't know exactly. Still, if there is some truth to what he said, that could mean that he won't go to whichever team his dad signs with.

Almost as soon as LeBron informed the Lakers he wouldn't return, the speculation that he and Bronny would be a package deal began. It didn't matter that the younger James' contract for next season became fully guaranteed the day before.

However, Dan Woike of The Athletic reported on July 14 (subscription required) that the "assumptions that the father and son staying linked going forward are false." He mentioned Bronny's improvement over the past couple of seasons and how well-liked he is within the Lakers' locker room.

Bronny may not end up where LeBron goes

The 21-year-old is under contract for at least another season in Los Angeles, so his father isn't in control of his future. It doesn't matter if LeBron does want his next team to trade for Bronny. The Lakers will have the final say.

It is worth pointing out that, after agreeing to a one-year deal with Matisse Thybulle, Los Angeles has 16 players with guaranteed contracts on the roster. Sometime between now and the start of the season, the Lakers will need to trim that number down to 15. Oh, and there's still the whole Jonathan Kuminga situation, which could further complicate the picture for Bronny.

As of right now, though, Los Angeles hasn't given any indication that Bronny will be on the move, though that's not to say it won't happen. But even before LeBron said he was leaving the Lakers, they made it sound like they truly valued Bronny.

Perhaps LeBron will push for his next team to make a move for Bronny, which the Cavaliers are already reportedly willing to do. It'd be a homecoming for the father-son duo, but again, only if the Lakers have a willingness to help make that happen.

If Bronny knows that LeBron is leaning one way or the other about what's next, he made it sound like he didn't. What we do know is that he spoke the absolute truth when he said it would be crazy if his father ended up with the Warriors, an outcome that Lakers fans really don't want to see.

Time will tell (hopefully sometime this week) whether LA is open to sending Bronny to where LeBron goes, but that's not something you can say with absolute certainty, especially if the younger James is in the dark (or at least a little bit of dark) about what's next.

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