The Lakers wasted no time reshaping their roster after LeBron James left. Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton — four new guys in the door within days. The bulk of the rotation is basically set now. But one name still hangs in the air: Bronny James.
His contract became guaranteed earlier this week when the deadline passed and the Lakers didn’t cut him. That doesn’t mean he’s safe. There’s been chatter that once LeBron picks his next team, the Lakers could ship Bronny there as part of a deal. Another possibility: if L.A. really wants Jonathan Kuminga in free agency, Bronny’s $2 million salary could get tossed into a salary dump to free up the cap space.
Or they could just keep him. And honestly, that might be the smartest move.
Bronny is already a rotation player
A year ago, people were still arguing about whether Bronny belonged in the NBA at all. That debate has cooled off. Under JJ Redick, he got real minutes. Consistent minutes. He even saw the floor in the Lakers’ first-round playoff win against Houston. That’s not a charity case getting spot duty. That’s a guy earning his run.
Defensively, he was a legit pest. Redick praised him multiple times for the pressure he put on ball handlers. StatMuse had his defensive rating at 117.8 last season, which sat in the top half of the roster and wasn’t far off Marcus Smart’s 116.9. Smart just left L.A. for Houston in free agency, so there’s a hole on that end. Bronny already modeled parts of his game after Smart and leaned on him as a mentor. Turning him into a Smart-lite off the bench? That’s not a stretch. That’s the natural next step.
The shooting numbers are real now
He shot 38.6 percent from three-point range last season. Career best. That’s not a fluke sample either. He put in the work, and it showed. For a guy making just over $2 million, you’re getting a guard who can defend, quarterback the second unit, and knock down catch-and-shoot threes. That’s good value by any standard.
The Lakers’ new additions don’t exactly scream defensive intensity either. Keeping Bronny fills a need they still have.
The optics aren’t great if they dump him
Look, the Lakers don’t usually care what people think. But trading Bronny the second LeBron leaves? That basically confirms every accusation that’s been floating around since draft night. That he was only there to keep LeBron happy. That his development didn’t matter. That he was a bargaining chip with a name.
Bronny has already proven that narrative is wrong. He’s earned a roster spot on his own merit. Letting him stay in a system he knows, with teammates he’s built chemistry with, and a coach who trusts him — that’s the right call. The fans would appreciate it too. And in a city that loves a redemption story, keeping Bronny around might be the best PR move the Lakers don’t have to say out loud.
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