LeBron James just dropped a bomb on the NBA, signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for a two-year, $8 million deal that even includes a player option for his 25th season. That’s a huge shift after eight years in LA, but it leaves his son, Bronny James, in a super weird spot with the Lakers.
The Contract Cliffhanger
Bronny’s still on the Lakers’ books, at least for now. They actually guaranteed his $2.29 million deal for the 2026-27 season back on June 29. That’s part of the four-year, $7.89 million contract he inked after getting picked #55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. Initially, only $1.25 million of that 2026-27 salary was guaranteed, but by keeping him past last month’s deadline, the full amount kicked in. It’s wild to think LeBron’s heading East, making this his 24th NBA season, while Bronny’s future in LA is suddenly under the microscope.
Earned Minutes and Roster Realities
You gotta respect what Bronny’s done to earn his minutes. Forget the hype around his dad for a second. This kid put in the work. He battled through a ton of scrutiny, but those playoff minutes last spring? Totally earned. We saw him play 27 regular season games in 2024-25, then boost that to 42 last year. He even split time with the South Bay Lakers in the G League, showing real dedication. He’s been developing ever since opening night of the 2024-25 season, shooting 38.6% from deep on 1.4 attempts per game. When the Lakers went up against the Houston Rockets in the first round, he was out there, making an impact. His long-term role looks like a 3-and-D guard off the bench, and he showed flashes of that against Houston.
The Lakers’ Tight Spot
But here’s the kicker: the Lakers have a team option for Bronny for the 2026-27 season at $2.48 million. So, they guaranteed one amount, but there’s still an option for the same season, which makes you wonder. Plus, the roster is already packed with 16 players after they just signed Mattisse Thybulle to a one-year deal. They can only carry 20 in the offseason, so they’re gonna have to cut at least one player before training camp. Even with LeBron gone, keeping Bronny might make sense financially. His contract is minimal, totally cost-controlled. The Lakers had a busy offseason, signing Collin, so they’re clearly trying to build something.
What happens next for Bronny is huge, not just for him but for the Lakers as they figure out their roster. Will they keep him around despite his dad moving on? The next few weeks leading into training camp are going to be wild for the Lakers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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