Prior to the NBA trade deadline there were actual LeBron James trade rumors that had many fans wondering if the Los Angeles Lakers were about to pivot into a rebuild. Rich Paul of Klutch Sports quickly shot down those rumors and the Lakers did nothing at the deadline.
However, less than a week after the deadline passed LeBron has once again found his name in trade rumors. The Golden State Warriors reportedly approached the Lakers about a potential LeBron trade, which the purple and gold obviously rebuked.
While nothing happened at the deadline, these talks do bring LeBron's future into question. LeBron has a player option after this season that he can use to leave if he so pleases. If a team like the Warriors are willing to bring him in to pair him with Stephen Curry then that could interest the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
The Lakers know this and it appears that the team is already pulling out all the stops to ensure that LeBron stays in Los Angeles. According to Sam Amick, Anthony Slater and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers are reportedly exploring the notion of adding Bronny James to the roster.
"The Lakers, per the high-ranking team source, are also willing to explore the notion of adding Bronny James next season. This stance, the source said, is rooted in the reality that James’ happiness truly matters to the organization. They will potentially have their 2024 first-round pick (depending on if the New Orleans Pelicans, as part of the blockbuster Davis trade, choose to receive that pick or defer to 2025) and have two second-round picks that could help to that end (the Clippers’ and the less favorable of the Grizzlies’ and Wizards’ selections)."
Lakers appear likely to bring in Bronny James to keep LeBron James
It has been the worst-kept secret in the league that LeBron wants to play with Bronny and will do what it takes to make that happen. Initially viewed as a first-round prospect, it appeared that the Lakers needed a first-round pick this year in order to make that happen.
Bronny's draft stock has fallen throughout the course of this season and if declares for the 2024 NBA Draft he would likely be a mid-to-late second-round pick. That sets the Lakers up to easily take him with two second-round picks, but it also creates a situation that could hurt the Lakers.
Every other team in the league knows that the Lakers want to keep LeBron next season. So what is stopping a team that has plenty of picks from using a late first-round pick or an early second-round pick on Bronny? Every single team in the league would trade the 27th pick in the draft for a season of LeBron James, especially if it comes at a discount.
This could force the Lakers to use a pick as high as the team's first-round pick for a prospect that isn't worthy of a mid-first-rounder. In such a bad draft class it might not end up mattering, but the team would be forcing itself into one selection solely to keep LeBron.
it is going to be extremely interesting to watch this situation pan out as there has never been a draft prospect who also might come attached with one of the greatest players in NBA history. As far as we know, the Lakers are planning to unite the two on the same team.