LeBron James is now with the Philadelphia 76ers, but that doesn’t automatically make Bronny James a trade chip the Los Angeles Lakers should rush to move.
The temptation is obvious: father and son together again, same roster, same locker room, same storyline. But from the Lakers’ side, there’s no real reason to make that easy. If Philadelphia wants to chase Bronny, Los Angeles should make the deal on its own terms, not hand over a discount just because of who his father is now.
There’s also the simple basketball case for keeping him. Bronny already took a real step forward in his second season, especially as an outside shooter.
That matters. The Lakers have every reason to let that growth continue instead of sending him somewhere else before they’ve seen how far it can go.
The contract situation also points toward patience. Bronny’s deal is now fully guaranteed for 2026-27, and the Lakers hold a team option for 2027-28. That gives L.A. a reason to keep investing in what it already has rather than resetting the clock elsewhere.
And for Bronny himself, staying in Los Angeles makes sense too. He knows the environment. He doesn’t need the disruption of a fresh start with a new organization this early in his career.
Just as important, he doesn’t need his career to look like it’s being steered by his father. Bronny has reached the point where he can keep a Lakers roster spot because of what he brings. He doesn’t need LeBron to clear the path for him.
Could a trade to the 76ers still happen? Absolutely.
But based on the information here, it’s hard to argue that it’s the best move for anyone outside maybe the James family. Even then, there’s a strong case for letting Bronny keep building on his own with the Lakers.
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Johnsons appeal is easy to understand for a Lakers team still sorting out its long-term balance on the perimeter. He brings the sort of size and two-way versatility contenders usually chase, and his contract situation gives any acquiring team some flexibility if the fit is right. Nothing is official yet, and the current buzz is still speculative, but the fact that Los Angeles is even being linked to another prominent wing name suggests the search for the right move is far from over. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Suddenly Face A Real Bronny James Decision
Bronny James second season gave the Lakers enough reason to believe the developmental track is moving in the right direction. He played in 42 games, posted 2.9 points per game in limited minutes and showed better shooting numbers, which matters for a team that has already put time and salary into his growth.
Still, his place on the roster is far from settled because the guard group around him keeps getting crowded. With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes all in the mix, Bronnys path to consistent minutes is murky, and that uncertainty is why his name has started to surface in trade chatter as the Lakers weigh whether to keep building around him or use him as part of a larger move. [Read more 🡒]