LeBron James' future may be uncertain, but the Lakers reportedly have no plans to move on from Bronny James.
Questions surrounding LeBron James' future with the Los Angeles Lakers have fueled plenty of speculation this offseason, including whether Bronny James could eventually follow his father if he finishes his career elsewhere.
According to a recent report, however, the Lakers have no intention of moving the second-year guard simply because of his family ties.
Speaking about the situation, Khobi Price of the California Post reported that the organization remains committed to Bronny and does not view him as a player who would automatically be included in any move involving LeBron.
Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Bronny James (9) walk on the court during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images"What I want to make clear is that the Lakers are more than happy to keep Bronny James," Price said. "They drafted him in the second round two years ago. They developed him. They're a fan of him. He has a lot of people who like him within the building, so it's not going to be one of those situations where, 'Oh yeah, they're just going to send Bronny to wherever LeBron goes.'"
The comments provide a clearer picture of how the franchise views Bronny entering the 2026-27 season.
Lakers Continue Investing in Bronny's Development
The Lakers selected Bronny with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, understanding he would likely require time to develop before becoming a consistent contributor at the NBA level.
Since joining the organization, Bronny has spent time between the NBA roster and the South Bay Lakers, steadily improving his overall game.
During the 2025-26 season, the 21-year-old appeared in 42 games, averaging 2.9 points, 1.2 assists and 0.5 rebounds while shooting 40.9% from the field and 38.6% from 3-point range.
Although his role remained limited, his improved perimeter shooting and defensive effort gave the coaching staff reasons to remain optimistic about his long-term potential.
Apr 24, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) dribbles the ball during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn ImagesThe organization has consistently praised Bronny's work ethic and willingness to develop behind the scenes rather than rushing into a larger role.
Other Lakers Could Be Trade Candidates
While Bronny appears to be part of the Lakers' future plans, Price noted there are other young players who could be more likely to appear in trade discussions.
Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy were identified as players whose contract situations make them more realistic trade candidates if L.A. looks to reshape its roster before the start of the regular season. Hardy has a team option for the 2027-28 season, while Knecht also remains on a team-friendly rookie contract.
Those deals could make them attractive pieces in potential trades, especially if the Lakers continue searching for roster upgrades around Luka Dončić.
LeBron's future will continue to generate headlines until a decision is made, but the latest reporting suggests Bronny's future is not tied directly to his father's. Instead, the Lakers appear focused on continuing his development and evaluating him as a player in his own right, regardless of what ultimately happens with LeBron.
