Lakers ‘Willing to Explore’ Drafting Bronny James to Appease LeBron James, per Report

The freshman guard has struggled to find his footing at USC so far.

This year has not gone according to plan for USC guard Bronny James.

The son of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has been largely ineffective in his first season with the Trojans. Granted, mitigating factors are in play—the younger James is recovering from a serious offseason health scare, and USC writ large has been terrible—but it seems safe to write off a 2024 breakout.

Where does James go from here? According to The Athletic, the NBA is a possibility.

“The Lakers, per [a] high-ranking team source, are also willing to explore the notion of adding Bronny James next season,” Sam Amick, Jovan Buha and Anthony Slater of The Athletic wrote Wednesday. “This stance, the source said, is rooted in the reality that James’ happiness truly matters to the organization.”

Bronny James has been a roleplayer for the struggling USC Trojans as a freshman :: Robert Edwards/USA TODAY Sports

The younger James could theoretically leave the 9–15 Trojans this summer, while the elder James—who has made little secret in the past of his desire to one day play with his son—has a $51 million player option for 2025.

All eyes will be on the Lakers in the coming months, as they currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference at 30–26.