The Lakers’ reshaped roster has created a very different backdrop for Bronny James, and not necessarily a softer one. Los Angeles is moving into a new chapter built around Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, with the team having turned over almost its entire group of players.
One major change is already settled: LeBron James is gone. He is headed to the Philadelphia 76ers, which means Bronny will be on an NBA roster for the first time in his career without his father alongside him.
“LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for his final run at another NBA championship, he announced Friday," ESPN's Dave McMenamin wrote. "James, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania."
That departure leaves Bronny in a different spot, even if his place on the roster itself looks secure for now. The Lakers still need to make one cut before the regular season after training camp, and Bronny does not appear to be the player in danger.
He is set to make $2.2 million this season, while Los Angeles has 16 players on guaranteed deals. According to Lake Show Life's Tyler Watts, the team is looking at other possible moves instead, with Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, or Jaden Hardy mentioned as names to watch.
Still, being safe from a cut is one thing. Getting real minutes is another.
Watts laid out the concern bluntly, arguing that Bronny has work to do before he can claim a steady role in the rotation.
“The Los Angeles Lakers have a Bronny James problem. He must prove he is ready to be in the nightly rotation, but Bronny doesn’t fit next to Collin Sexton.
He isn’t ready to be in the starting five, so it will take a significant leap for James to get minutes. Crazier things have happened, but it feels like Bronny will be glued to the bench again, waiting for an opportunity when someone misses time,” Watts wrote.
That’s the real issue for Bronny heading into the season. He may have a roster spot, but he has not yet shown enough to look like a dependable rotation player for Los Angeles. If the minutes don’t come, the questions about his long-term future with the Lakers will only get louder.
James has made progress each season, but he is still behind several players on this roster. As the third-year guard tries to carve out a place for himself, every chance matters. If he doesn’t take advantage, he could be left with plenty to sort out down the line.
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P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. have both surfaced as possible targets, which says plenty about where this thing may be headed. The Lakers need more than a body at the four, they need a player who can hold up defensively and fit cleanly alongside their core, and that kind of fit usually comes at the cost of patience and a willingness to keep exploring the market. [Read more 🡒]