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LeBron James could well become a free agent following the 2023-24 NBA season.
The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling (again), but James is still one the game’s top players, even at 39 years old.
With that in mind, teams are queueing up to sign James in the offseason. But in order to do so, they may also need to draft his son, Bronny.
Bronny James is a freshman at USC. But after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest prior to the season, he’s struggled to find his footing with the Trojans. The younger James is averaging just 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for USC on just 27.1 percent from deep.
Even so, NBA report Marc Stein reveals that a pair of teams have already considered drafting Bronny James as a means to land his father’s signature.
“I know of at least two teams on the NBA map that believe LeBron James would consider signing with them at far less than $51.4 million if Bronny James is on the roster. There might be more,” Stein said in his most recent newsletter.
Though, notably, Stein did not say who the two teams in question are. Most public speculation points to the New York Knicks and Miami Heat as contenders for his signature.
Interestingly enough, Stein also connects the Lakers to an entirely separate move. He reports that LA could become a player if the Atlanta Hawks make All-Star guard Trae Young available via trade.
Although he doesn’t state whether or not those plans would include keeping James. It’s entirely possible the Lakers organization uses this summer to try to pivot off the aging superstar and build a team around Anthony Daivs.
Though they’ve given no public indication that this is the plan.
Regardless, it appears that James could yet again hold the key to the NBA offseason.