Some of the intriguing questions of the 2024 NBA Draft cycle can be answered Thursday when USC guard Bronny James may hear his title referred to as on the draft. The son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is the Fifty fifth-ranked participant in CBS Sports activities Prospect Rankings and tasks as a second-round decide.
The Lakers maintain a decide at No. 55 within the second spherical of the draft and a few mock drafts have projected that decide can be used to pick out Bronny. The older James expressed his public want over time to play along with his oldest son within the NBA, and that is the golden alternative to do exactly that.
Whereas it is no assure that Bronny will find yourself a member of the Lakers on draft evening, it seems to be the more than likely consequence. There are odds out for James to get drafted by every of the 30 NBA groups. The Lakers are favored at -130, however that means solely a 56.52% probability — or a 43.48% probability that Bronny can be drafted by a special staff than the Lakers.
The Phoenix Suns (+700), Dallas Mavericks (+900), Minnesota Timberwolves (+1000) and Toronto Raptors (+1000) have essentially the most favorable odds of touchdown Bronny after the Lakers.
Right here is the place our CBS Sports activities specialists venture Bronny James to be drafted.
Gary Parrish: Lakers land Bronny at No. 55
By no means earlier than has a borderline NBA prospect been mentioned and debated this a lot main right into a draft. It is form of awkward, actually, as a result of the identical participant with a special father and title would not even be part of the dialog. Regardless, at this level, I am assuming Bronny James will really be chosen Thursday — however not till the Fifty fifth decide, when Los Angeles executes its lone second-round decide. It will be a comparatively small value for the Lakers to pay to placate the NBA’s all-time scoring chief. Then LeBron and Bronny could make historical past subsequent season by enjoying collectively as a father-son combo within the NBA, presumably in rubbish time when most groups clear the benches.
Adam Finkelstein: All indicators level to Lakers at No. 55
I have been saying for a 12 months now that I anticipated the Lakers, and solely the Lakers, to draft Bronny. It has been nearly three years since Lebron began saying his closing purpose was to play along with his son, and no matter what has occurred between the traces or the newer makes an attempt to maneuver these purpose posts, all the pieces that has occurred since has supported that mission. From Bronny solely understanding for 2 groups, to Wealthy Paul saying he would not signal a two-way deal, to the timing of Lebron’s personal free company maximizing his already appreciable affect given his nonetheless all-star caliber degree of play and the affect of Klutch. Bronny to the Lakers at No. 55. The one potential in my view is that if they transfer up larger within the second spherical to keep away from any sudden problems.
Matt Norlander: It is the Lakers at No. 55 or bust
On condition that that is the final time we’ll write about Bronny James as a prospect earlier than the NBA Draft begins (I feel? Hope? Please?), one final bit from me on this: I want he’d returned, performed considerably higher as a sophomore, benefitted himself and school basketball and made his profile way more believable as a draftable man. However that is not the place we’re at, and sadly I do suppose we’ll look again and ask and surprise if the result would have been completely different if he took the scenic route earlier than being shoehorned into the league. That mentioned, I am unable to even discuss myself into anybody however LA taking him. I feel different franchises aren’t sufficient in him as a fringe-fringe-fringe man to make it well worth the problem and headache. It is the Lakers at No. 55 or bust. Or, sadly, each. What may have been.
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Kyle Boone: Lakers verify two containers
Los Angeles holds two picks within the 2024 NBA Draft coming into Wednesday — No. 17 and No. 55 — and most across the league consider its second decide is earmarked to maintain The King pleased by bringing in his namesake and eldest youngster. That is the place I land, too. At No. 55, the Lakers can get a two-fer each by securing a promising younger prospect and by guaranteeing that LeBron will get what he is lengthy dreamt of: enjoying within the NBA along with his son. And on the identical staff, no much less.
David Cobb: Bronny to the Lakers, however…
If the Lakers do not choose Bronny, then nobody will. However it might make for peak NBA drama if one other staff drafted him solely to achieve negotiating leverage. An opposing common supervisor with ruthless pragmatism and blatant disrespect for LeBron may take Bronny after which power the Lakers to cede property to accumulate him by way of commerce. Would it not be a jerk transfer? Sure. However contemplating how intent LeBron is on enjoying along with his son, it is easy to ascertain him leaning on the entrance workplace to do no matter it’d take with the intention to get Bronny right into a Lakers uniform. It is unlikely {that a} rival entrance workplace would have the urge for food for such a stunt, nevertheless it’s one thing to think about.
Cameron Salerno: Lakers taking Bronny a certain factor
In a draft filled with unpredictability, Bronny James going to the Lakers within the second spherical is among the surest outcomes doable. As I wrote final week, the Lakers hiring JJ Redick affirms the assumption that LeBron James will play along with his son subsequent season in Los Angeles. The Lakers could have to commerce up throughout the second spherical to safe Bronny, nevertheless it seems he would seemingly be there at No. 55 as a result of his agent, Wealthy Paul, publicly said his want to ship Bronny to a spot the place he can get a assured contract. Bronny to the Lakers makes an excessive amount of sense.