The Los Angeles Lakers finalized their regular season roster by waiving Dalton Knecht on Monday, which means Bronny James made the cut. Unfortunately, Bronny is no lock to survive the season. He is now the 15th man after an abysmal preseason. He must improve quickly, or James could be let go the moment a better option emerges. Bronny is making just $2.2 million this season, so LA would have no qualms about moving on.
James had a disaster preseason that allowed Jaden Hardy to pass him in the pecking order. Bronny averaged 2.2 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 turnovers in 16.4 minutes per game. Having a point guard average more turnovers than points is a problem. James looked completely lost offensively as he was fighting for a place on the roster.
The Lakers entered camp with 16 guaranteed contracts and had to cut down to the maximum 15 by Monday’s deadline. They decided to move on from Knecht, despite him being taken higher than Bronny in the 2024 NBA Draft. It was time to let DK get a change of scenery, but that leaves James as the first man to go on a roster with championship aspirations. That is never a comfortable spot.
Lakers could quickly move on from Bronny James if better option arises
James is making just $2.2 million, and the Lakers have a $2.4 million team option for the 2027-28 season. They could waive him with no penalty beyond this season.
LA is $8.1 million under the first apron where they are hard-capped, which leaves plenty of room to waive Bronny and sign another minimum contract. The Lakers also have the option of taking back more money than they send out in a trade if an upgrade becomes available.
James’ popularity will increase his interest around the NBA. The 6’2 guard is a hard worker who has navigated the spotlight since birth. The Lakers may even be able to land a second-round draft pick for Bronny if they can find the right team.
The Lakers clearly need a backup center and more guard depth. They have struggled to handle the ball and create plays when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were off the floor this preseason. Collin Sexton is recovering from an injury, but the Lakers don’t want Bronny, Hardy, and Chris Manon to be running the offense when Doncic, Reaves, or Sexton misses time.
Bronny needs to stop thinking he’s a point guard and embrace being an off-ball threat if he wants to stick in Los Angeles.
Bronny James must improve his jumper to stick on the Lakers
Depth is more important than ever in the modern NBA. The pace and space make it more taxing on players, and the invention of the second apron has limited spending. Superteams are a thing of the past. Having 12 players capable of making a positive impact is what wins.
Bronny can’t continue taking up a roster spot if he can’t contribute. He has never been a true point guard, and the Lakers can’t make him one. James needs to embrace playing off the ball behind Doncic, Reaves, and whoever the sixth man is moving forward. He shot 38.6 percent from 3-point range over a limited sample last season. Proving that is real is the key to James cracking the rotation and staying on the Lakers.
He made one of his eight 3-point attempts during the preseason. Worse than sinking just one was that he only took eight over five contests. It doesn’t matter what percentage a player shoots if there is virtually no volume. Bronny was playing too much on the ball, but he needs to lock in his jumper and fire away when open to help the purple and gold.
Lakers will look to upgrade roster before the trade deadline
The purple and gold are not a rebuilding franchise. They remade their roster around Luka this summer. LA has two stars in their primes leading this group. The Lakers want to win now.
They will look to maximize their title odds and improve their roster before the deadline. Two clear holes have already emerged during the preseason. The Lakers can’t play Kevon Looney as their backup center and need a creator behind Luka, AR, and Sexton. Other issues will pop up. Los Angeles has limited trade assets, but Rob Pelinka will look to plug the holes before the Feb. 11 deadline.
The Lakers would love to trade Jarred Vanderbilt, but his $13.2 million player option for next season makes that difficult. That leaves Hardy’s $6 million and Bronny as the most likely contracts to be sent packing. James must take back his spot in the Lakers pecking order from Hardy, or he could be out the door before the trade deadline.
Bronny James made the Los Angeles Lakers roster, but there is now even more pressure to improve his game. The 22-year-old is the most likely player to be moved if the front office can find an upgrade. James has to earn his spot long-term. This preseason was a setback, but Bronny will get opportunities this season. He needs to make the most of them, or his time with the Lakers could be over before the trade deadline.
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