Bombshell Report Reveals Why No NBA Team Drafted Bronny James Before The Lakers

Bronny James (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
One of the top stories in round one of the 2024 NBA Draft was Bronny James remaining available heading into day two.

Finally, with the No. 55 selection, the Los Angeles Lakers selected LeBron James’ son. And with that, Bronny James will get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with his old man after all.

Though he wasn’t regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2024 class, many expected Bronny to go by the early stages of round two. The reason is simple: The team that landed Bronny would have a better chance at landing LeBron if he went to free agency.

Speaking on ESPN before Bronny was taken by the Lakers, former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers dropped a bombshell report on why nobody else drafted the USC product. Apparently, it’s because agent Rich Paul worked extensively to make sure Bronny didn’t land somewhere that he didn’t want to be:

“Right now, Rich Paul is calling teams, (and telling them) ‘Don’t take Bronny James…Do not take him. Don’t take him. You take him, he’s going to Australia’ So he has a plan and he has a place.”

In his one season at USC, Bronny James averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. James appeared in 25 games (six starts) and averaged 19.4 minutes of action per contest.

LeBron can opt out of his contract and test free agency in the coming days. But with Bronny landing with the Lakers, it feels unlikely now that the elder James will pass on the opportunity to play with his son.

LeBron & Bronny James Playing Together Will Be Epic

Some moving parts were needed to make this work, but LeBron and Bronny James will get the opportunity to play together in La La Land.

Only time will tell how Bronny performs in the pros, but it simply makes for Hollywood-like drama that he gets to play with his father. And if Los Angeles can somehow add one more star player to help LeBron and Anthony Davis, Bronny will get the chance to compete for a championship right away.

RUMOR: Los Angeles Lakers Linked To Blockbuster Trade For All-Star Big Man To Form A New “Big Three” With LeBron James & Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis and LeBron James (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to a blockbuster trade for one of the league’s top big men in a move that would significantly bolster their 2025 NBA championship hopes.

Few teams have been busier this offseason than the Los Angeles Lakers. They hired J.J. Redick as their new head coach, used the No. 55 pick on LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, and extended the elder James on a two-year deal worth $104 million.

But it’s obvious that the Lakers need a third scorer to complement the 39-year-old James and fellow superstar Anthony Davis. Look no further than the Boston Celtics, who cruised to an NBA Championship after landing Kristaps Porzingis last offseason in a move to support the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown duo.

BetArizona.com has listed the betting odds for Lauri Markkanen’s next team. The Utah Jazz All-Star big man is widely expected to be dealt this summer, and he’s been tied aplenty to the Lakers in trade rumors.

The Los Angeles Lakers have the fifth-best odds of landing Markkanen at +2000, behind the Golden State Warriors (+900), San Antonio Spurs (+1250), Houston Rockets (+1500) and Oklahoma City Thunder (+1500).

I still think the best possible trade for Lakers if possible would be Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler. That is $39,360,464 money coming to LA. Send out DLo, Gabe and Rui and $46,692,307 and take protections off 2027 Round 1 owed to Utah. Send 2029 and 2031.

— Otis Kirk (@OtisKirk23) July 4, 2024

Markkanen earned his first All-Star selection in 2023 and took home Most Improved Player honors. The 27-year-old has averaged over 20 points per game in each of the last two seasons (25.6 PPG in 2022-23 and 23.2 this past year).

Lauri Markkanen Is The Perfect Target For Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers rode the James-Davis super duo to an NBA championship in the Orlando Bubble four years ago. But the supporting cast has weakened, and the Western Conference has become significantly more difficult.

Markkanen has put up excellent numbers on a rebuilding Utah team, bus his presence alongside James and Davis could take this offense to another level. A James-Davis-Markkanen trio would be arguably the best “big three” in the West, and it would greatly enhance their chances of winning another title before James retires.

Ice Cube Has Everyone Scratching Their Heads By Picking Former Lakers Legend In Place Of LeBron James In His Ultimate 3v3 Team

Ice Cube and LeBron James ( Image Source: GettyImages )
The name LeBron James instantly brings memories of unmatched dominance in the NBA. His legacy goes beyond on-paper statistics. Because of his impressive strength and smart play, the Lakers star is a must-have for any dream team.

Recently, rapper Ice Cube also revealed his dream 3v3 team, which includes some great NBA stars. However, he shocked the world by leaving out the current NBA king, Lebron James.

Nobody expected Ice Cube to leave LeBron James off his 3v3 fantasy team, but he delighted everyone by including two former Los Angeles Lakers greats. He went for an all-star lineup featuring Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal. When Cube tried to choose the best three from their prime, he emphasized how tough it was to pick only one.

The rapper justified his pick to Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports,  stating, “It’s hard not to go with Shaq… you can’t lose with Kobe, Jordan, and Shaq. How could you lose with that combo?!”  Cube’s choice highlights the domination of Lakers icons from the past, even though LeBron is a powerhouse in basketball right now.

The 55-year-old has always acknowledged Michael Jordan as the all-time best player. Besides, he saw the Kobe-Shaq period firsthand as the two cemented their position in basketball history by winning three championships together. So, from his perspective, they are the formidable basketball trio, at least on paper.

LeBron James Admits New NBA Contract Might Mark His Final Run

The coming NBA season is very important for the Los Angeles Lakers after their unfortunate first-round loss last year. So, they chose to retain LeBron James for the next NBA season, which is an intelligent call. Meanwhile, LeBron actively supports the team, even offering a pay cut to help the front office sign key free agents. Although this is a favorable decision, a recent discovery from the ageless wonder of the NBA has cast doubt on his basketball future.

Time is running out for LeBron James’s legendary career as he enters his 22nd season. He told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that he’s 39 years old and knows his current deal may be his last, but he hasn’t decided yet.

In the interview, he claimed, “I mean, it could be [the last contract I will ever sign],” James told ESPN. “I’d never sit up here and say, ‘Oh, maybe not.’ Yeah, it could be. Easily. But we’ll see what happens.”

However, we may never know when LeBron James will retire from basketball, but when he does, fans everywhere should expect an emotional and riveting farewell.