The Los Angeles Lakers began their offseason with a much more modest move before their complete roster overhaul on July 1. They guaranteed the contract of third-year guard Bronny James on June 29, before LeBron James announced that he would be moving on from the Lakers on June 30.
This left many wondering if the Lakers would ultimately send Bronny to any team LeBron signs with, or if they would keep him as a reserve guard and separate the father and son for the first time in his career. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, a Bronny trade is possible once LeBron decides his next chapter:
Once LeBron makes his decision on his next team, there could be a subsequent move made with Bronny.
The Lakers have done well over the last two years to help develop the young second-round pick into a legitimate reserve. He and his father scored 10 consecutive points together in a playoff game against the Houston Rockets last season. Getting postseason minutes is not something that could have been expected of Bronny this early in his career, but he held his own when he was on the floor.
L.A. could easily keep Bronny and try to maintain that trajectory to being a nightly rotation player, but they also could do a favor to LeBron on his way out — and get away from the media coverage that comes with rostering a member of the James family — by dealing him to whatever team the 41-year-old superstar signs with.
Trading Bronny to that team would likely require no maneuvering from either party. The young guard is on a minimum contract, meaning as long as a team has space under their theoretical or literal hard cap of spending, they can absorb him without sending back salary. Ideally, the Lakers could try to swing a second-round pick in the deal to add an asset to their barren war chest. But either way, they would benefit from opening up another roster spot to add a free agent.
Austin Reaves pays tribute to LeBron James
Austin Reaves has developed a close bond with LeBron James over their time together on the Lakers. Reaves wound up being one of LeBron’s longest-tenured teammates. And with the news of him moving on to another team, it means Reaves will play his first NBA season without James on the roster.
After the news broke, Reaves took to social media to express his appreciation to LeBron.
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