RealGM

If this topic belongs on the NBA Draft board please move or close but I thought posting on here still has its merits. In light of Bronny James declaring for the draft, ill assume that

A) No team will take him in the top 40 of the draft based on his freshman year production/health issues
B) The Lakers own the Clippers 2024 2nd and they would take him at that spot (Currently #55)

As a result, I was looking at what teams may draft Bronny between #41-#54 to either keep him or sell or trade the pick to Lakers

-OKC Thunder: Own Rockets 2024 2nd if their 2024 1st doesn't defer (Currently #42) OKC is a competitive team with cap flexibility and excess 2024 picks. They could select Bronny and sell LeBron on signing in OKC beyond the mid level exemption.

-Los Angeles Clippers: Own the Pacers 2024 2nd (Currently #47) as the club could select Bronny to keep him in same market where his family resides and leverage that to get LeBron to try and sign for tax payers exemption.

-Philadelphia Sixers: Own the Knicks 2024 2nd (Currently #52) as the club can select Bronny and leverage their cap space to have LeBron sign to join forces with Maxey and Embiid as they can compete in East against Boston.

-Indiana Pacers: 2024 New Orleans 2nd round pick pick (#53) as they also own the Cavs and Bucks 2nds as well so they could draft Bronny and either deal that pick to Lakers for the Clippers 2nd + cash or keep Bronny and try and lure LeBron to join the team as they have cap flexibility to play with Haliburton + Siakam.

Other Teams with picks between #41-#54: Spurs (2024 Lakers 2nd), Wizards (2024 Suns 2nd), Celtics (2024 Mavs 2nd)

Nobody. He can simply transfer using the transfer portal and get a lot of $$$ via the NIL.

For people unaware, you can now declare for the draft while in the NCAA and the transfer portal at the same time and you won't lose any college eligibility. There is no downside to declaring for the draft as an NCAA "Student Athlete".

My guess he potentially plays next season at Duquesne University where Lebron's childhood friend and HS teammate just got the head coaching gig. Hopefully Bronny ends up pulling his name out of the '24 draft because he's not NBA ready. It would also create alot of backlash for any team to draft and use the kid as a pawn. Lebron has recently made it clear his intention is to retire with the Lakers.

LeBron would win a ring with a 4th different team if he played for boston who won 60 + games without LeBron

He shouldn’t be drafted. There are 100 + players ahead of him. Lakers might or sign him as a UFA. He should go back to college.

He shouldn’t be drafted. There are 100 + players ahead of him. Lakers might or sign him as a UFA. He should go back to college.

brackdan70 wrote:He shouldn’t be drafted. There are 100 + players ahead of him. Lakers might or sign him as a UFA. He should go back to college.

He is going back to college. He literally entered the transfer portal.

I wonder if OKC uses one of their many picks on Bronny. Could be an FRP.

Colbinii wrote:

brackdan70 wrote:He shouldn’t be drafted. There are 100 + players ahead of him. Lakers might or sign him as a UFA. He should go back to college.

He is going back to college. He literally entered the transfer portal.

He is also planning to enter the draft, but yeah I assume he doesn’t get drafted and goes back to school.

Spurs draft Bronny - at #47 - ironically from Lakers.

Spurs and Pops free agent sign James for little more than MLE. James as part of the deal plays GM, makes Spurs trade all Hawks picks+ for Trae Young. James needs his Irving 2.0. Then GM James trades more picks and youth for Towns. James needs his Kevin Love 2.0.

Wemby
Towns
James
Johnson
Trae

Pops and James (with Bronny) ring chase with Wemby.

During Draft To Wolves: Sochan + Collins + #2 (Topic or Sheppard) + 25 Raptors 1st (via Spurs) + 25 Spurs 1st (unprotected) + 27 Spurs 1st + 26 Spurs Swap

New League Year To Hawks: Vassell + All Hawks 1sts/Swaps Returned + 25 Bulls 1st (via Spurs)

Colbinii wrote:

brackdan70 wrote:He shouldn’t be drafted. There are 100 + players ahead of him. Lakers might or sign him as a UFA. He should go back to college.

He is going back to college. He literally entered the transfer portal.

And declared for draft, right?

My opinion seems to be different I think he would almost definitely be drafted just for the Lebron James factor.. There's no way you can tell me 30 teams pass on him in the second round at the latest.. With the opportunity to potentially get Lebron to come.. Like an OKC for example..

Wolveswin wrote:

Colbinii wrote:

brackdan70 wrote:He shouldn’t be drafted. There are 100 + players ahead of him. Lakers might or sign him as a UFA. He should go back to college.

He is going back to college. He literally entered the transfer portal.

And declared for draft, right?

Yup. Every top 100 player should declare for the draft. Players declare every year who have virtually no shot at getting drafted.

If you declare and can go to the combine, you get to practice and play against better competition.

99% odds he'll withdraw from the draft. He's going to go to the combine and get told to stay in school and work on literally everything in his game.

Colbinii wrote:

Wolveswin wrote:

Colbinii wrote:
He is going back to college. He literally entered the transfer portal.

And declared for draft, right?

Yup. Every top 100 player should declare for the draft. Players declare every year who have virtually no shot at getting drafted.

If you declare and can go to the combine, you get to practice and play against better competition.

So he did both. Which means entering the portal doesn’t mean anything as you eluded to. If Daddy James actually gets him drafted, I presume almost any slot so they can play together, he would go play with Daddy.

meekrab wrote:99% odds he'll withdraw from the draft. He's going to go to the combine and get told to stay in school and work on literally everything in his game.

Why tho? He can still study if he isnt drafted while playing in the g-league

Apz wrote:

meekrab wrote:99% odds he'll withdraw from the draft. He's going to go to the combine and get told to stay in school and work on literally everything in his game.

Why tho? He can still study if he isnt drafted while playing in the g-league

NIL money is probably better in NCAA than what he'd get as a scrub in the G-league.

If he’s smart he stays in college.

Apz wrote:

meekrab wrote:99% odds he'll withdraw from the draft. He's going to go to the combine and get told to stay in school and work on literally everything in his game.

Why tho? He can still study if he isnt drafted while playing in the g-league

Get paid less than the NIL

Wolveswin wrote:Spurs draft Bronny - at #47 - ironically from Lakers.

Spurs and Pops free agent sign James for little more than MLE. James as part of the deal plays GM, makes Spurs trade all Hawks picks+ for Trae Young. James needs his Irving 2.0. Then GM James trades more picks and youth for Towns. James needs his Kevin Love 2.0.

Wemby
Towns
James
Johnson
Trae

Pops and James (with Bronny) ring chase with Wemby.

During Draft To Wolves: Sochan + Collins + #2 (Topic or Sheppard) + 25 Raptors 1st (via Spurs) + 25 Spurs 1st (unprotected) + 27 Spurs 1st + 26 Spurs Swap

New League Year To Hawks: Vassell + All Hawks 1sts/Swaps Returned + 25 Bulls 1st (via Spurs)

In 2 years LeBron retires, Towns declines due to age and injury history, and Wemby gets pissed with the team for not being able to sustain their success level. A couple of years later, he demands a trade. If you were trying to depict a scenario where the Spurs destroy their future and lose Wemby midway through his rookie extension, congrats, you hit the nail on the head.