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Los Angeles Lakers Might Lose LeBron James Bargaining Chip for 2024 As Thoughts of Playing With Bronny Changes
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers Might Lose LeBron James Bargaining Chip for 2024 As Thoughts of Playing With Bronny Changes

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Christian Alamodin  |  Last updated 5/3/24

It’s clear to everyone and their mother that the Los Angeles Lakers are desperate to keep LeBron James playing for their team. He’s still one of their best players despite starting his career before some of the players entering this year’s NBA Draft were even born.

The Lakers are so keen on keeping the 39-year-old that they’re willing to draft Bronny James to keep him in the City of Angels. While Bronny is not the best prospect from the 2023 class, the Purple and Gold can use LeBron’s desire to play with his son to use their draft capital on him and keep him in the team.

However, recent developments over LeBron’s mentality will cause worry among Lakers fans who want to see Bron play as a Laker for one more year.

LeBron James’ mentality change in playing with Bronny puts a wrench in Los Angeles Lakers’ plans

The Lakers’ reported plan to draft Bronny James in the draft is an obvious ploy to keep King James in Cleveland. However, The Spun’s Kameron Duncan reported that James is not as keen to play with his son as he told virtually everyone over the past couple years:

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, LeBron isn’t considering playing with his son Bronny as a priority as he looks into the next portion of his career.

“The idea of them playing together is not a priority,” Wojnarowksi said on ESPN’s NBA Today.

“It’s not foremost, at least any longer, in LeBron James’ mind.”

It’s a shocking statement for fans to hear that the elder James is no longer interested in playing with his son. However, his son has endured health issues that derailed his college career. It also doesn’t help that Bronny didn’t perform up to par with the rest of the top prospects of the 2024 class.

This mindset change makes it clear that LeBron still wants to win another ring, be it with the Lakers or somewhere else. Bronny fans might not like the sudden change, but they have to understand that father and son stand at different stages of their basketball journeys.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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