The Los Angeles Lakers gave Bronny James additional opportunities in the preseason with Collin Sexton out, but his lack of an offensive game should have the franchise looking to move on. He averaged 2.2 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 turnovers in 16.4 minutes per game over the five contests. James shot 25.0 percent from the field and made just one of his eight 3-point attempts. The Lakers need a point guard, but Bronny proved he cannot fill that role.
The purple and gold want to win championships. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are in their primes. The Lakers need pieces around them that are ready to contribute. Jarred Vanderbilt can’t find a rotation spot because of his lack of offensive role. Bronny is in a similar boat if he isn’t hitting shots, and he doesn’t offer anywhere near the same level of defense.
Bronny is in his third NBA season. His jumper took a significant step forward last year, but the preseason has everyone wondering if that was a fluke. James isn’t a point guard. If he’s not making shots, the Lakers need to move on from Bronny.
Bronny James must embrace off-ball role
The Lakers needed a lead guard off the bench this preseason because Collin Sexton was out with an injury. Sexton is expected to be LA’s sixth man this season and is reportedly getting closer to returning. That pushed Bronny into a role that he shouldn’t be playing.
James has never been a point guard even during his high school career. He has always been a versatile two-guard capable of creating some offense as an ancillary option. Bronny had 14 assists and 12 turnovers as the Lakers were outscored by 31 points in his 81.8 minutes of action so far. Some of that production was against players who won’t crack an NBA rotation this season.
Bronny’s path to NBA minutes is becoming a lights-out shooter. He shot 38.6 percent from 3-point range over 57 attempts last season and 37.9 percent over 158 tries when adding in his G League numbers. LA needs him to be that type of threat to keep him on the floor.
James struggled as a rookie and has only taken 315 3-point attempts total between the two levels. There is no saying what numbers are real, but Bronny lacked confidence and struggled mightily this preseason. He needs to fire away when open and become a 38-plus percent 3-point shooter to make up for his deficiencies elsewhere.
Lakers should move on Bronny James because bar to crack rotation is high
Bronny is an undersized guard without an ideal role on either end of the floor. He isn’t a point guard, and his shooting is questionable at best. On defense, James isn’t the ideal point-of-attack defender. His lack of size and length raises the bar high to be a defensive-first option. Sam Quinn thinks Bronny would need to be Jamal Shead-level to justify his roster spot.
Jaden Hardy has already passed Bronny in LA’s rotation. He is a score-first guard with an NBA skill. Hardy can get buckets. The efficiency, playmaking, and defense are lacking, but Hardy will score. The Lakers would rather have that over what James currently offers.
Bronny is 22 years old. There is still time and room to grow, but the Lakers can’t wait forever. They have a $2.4 million team option for the 2027-28 season. If they exercise it, James becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2028. It is now or never for Bronny to earn a rotation spot, and his disastrous preseason gave the Lakers the answer. It is time to move on.
Bronny James’ popularity may net Lakers draft capital
James has done incredibly well dealing with being LeBron’s son and sharing his name with his famous father. It has made Bronny incredibly popular and has him under a much larger spotlight than a normal second-round draft pick in his third NBA season. James keeps putting in work and trying to earn his role.
The Lakers should trade Bronny to whatever team is willing to offer draft capital. James will sell some tickets and get fans buying merchandise, especially in the G League. Los Angeles doesn’t need that. They are an iconic brand that always sells out. Just another reason to dump Bronny and benefit from the return.
The Los Angeles Lakers want to win, and Bronny James’ offense is a detriment to the cause. He struggled to make shots and was disastrous running the offense. The Lakers need Bronny to become a lights-out shooter, but he isn’t.
It is time to move on and go in a different direction. LA needs a backup center and another ball-handler. Getting some draft capital for Bronny would help them fill those holes. Even more reason to make the move now.
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