Ric Bucher didn’t leave much room for ambiguity: if multiple second-round picks were on the table for Bronny James, he says the Lakers ought to take them and move on.
The bigger issue, though, is whether that kind of offer is real.
On Thursday’s episode of “On the Ball,” Bucher weighed in after James started against the Golden State Warriors and questioned whether the Lakers guard is ready for a regular NBA role. That led him into the trade-value discussion, where he made his stance plain.
“I saw one media outlet suggest they could trade him for multiple second-round picks. If there’s a team out there willing to do that, the Lakers should have made that deal yesterday. I have a hard time believing such a team actually exists,” Bucher said.
That was Bucher’s view of a hypothetical return, not a report that Los Angeles had turned down an actual offer. He didn’t name a team interested in James and didn’t describe any negotiations involving the Lakers.
The reporting around James does, however, show why the conversation exists at all. In an Oct. 4 roundup, Heavy’s Sean Deveney wrote about interest in James and floated a possible return of one or two second-round picks. An unnamed executive was positive about the young guard’s progress and his willingness to embrace a supporting role.
“There’s definitely interest there,” the executive. “He’s gotten much better in a short period. He knows his role, and it’s hard to find young guys who just want to excel in their role.”
Deveney’s report also pointed to Dalton Knecht as the likelier candidate if the Lakers decide they need to adjust their roster numbers. But the piece did not identify a specific team making a bid for James or say that multiple picks had actually been offered.
So the line between valuation and transaction remains wide. One executive can think a player has trade appeal without any club having put the necessary assets on the table.
Bucher’s point was simple: if that sort of package ever showed up, the Lakers should cash it in. His doubt was about whether it ever will.
His critique started with the role James was asked to handle against Golden State, not with the trade chatter. Bucher argued that putting James in charge of the offense exposed a weakness.
The Lakers were short-handed, with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Collin Sexton all out, along with Walker Kessler, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Arthur Kaluma. With those absences, the lineup had to be rearranged, and Quentin Grimes was another option to bring the ball up.
That context matters. A preseason start doesn’t automatically define James’ place in the regular season rotation when the available group is missing so many pieces.
Still, Bucher saw a problem early. He pointed to a timeout taken with 11:08 left in the first quarter, only 52 seconds into the game, with the Lakers down 4-0.
The timing is clear. Bucher’s read on James looking uncertain while initiating the offense is his interpretation of the possession, not something attributed to Redick.
He also took issue with James’ energy level and defensive work, saying the physical gifts aren’t consistently turning into the kind of effort required from a reserve.
“He is at best an NBA role player, and NBA role players have always had to bust their ass to earn their spot,” Bucher said.
At the same time, he didn’t dismiss James entirely. Bucher said the guard does have traits that could matter down the line.
“Bronny clearly has NBA-level athleticism. And he has a certain poise that reflects growing up on the fringe of the spotlight on his dad that could be useful,” Bucher said.
James’ numbers from the loss to Golden State were modest: four points, five assists and three turnovers in 20:58, with 2-of-5 shooting and misses on both 3-point attempts.
The five assists are part of the picture, not an afterthought. They show there were possessions where he helped create offense, even if they don’t prove he can consistently steer a game or handle defensive responsibilities.
The night before against Sacramento, James posted three points, five rebounds, two assists and one turnover in 15:53. He shot 1-of-5, with his lone make coming from beyond the arc.
Across those two games, he has seven assists, four turnovers and 3-of-10 shooting. That’s too small a sample to draw any sweeping conclusion about his shot, but it does give the Lakers some concrete film to study.
The more relevant questions are whether he can make quick decisions with the ball and still stay effective when another guard is running the show. Those are different jobs, and the answer to one doesn’t automatically settle the other.
Trying to organize a depleted starting group is one thing. Contributing in a smaller, more defined role next to a proven creator is another.
The Lakers have already been described as seeing value in James’ development, while still treating his rotation spot as far from guaranteed. That distinction is at the heart of the conversation now. Los Angeles can keep developing him without making him a regular part of the rotation when its preferred guards are available.
Another team could still see enough upside to ask about him. That doesn’t mean the Lakers have been presented with the multiple second-round picks Bucher talked about.
For James, the next step is straightforward: show he can protect the ball, keep the offense moving and do his defensive job in a limited role. For the Lakers, any trade talk only becomes real when there’s an actual offer to compare against keeping him.
Bucher has already said what he would do if that package existed. What hasn’t been established is whether it does.
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