What better place to develop than alongside LeBron James as part of the Los Angeles Lakers?
That looks like it’ll be the case for Bronny James as he enters his rookie year in the 2024-25 season, as the Lakers have signed the 55th overall pick to a multi-year guaranteed contract, the Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday.
Rather than receiving a two-way or non-fully guaranteed deal, James is poised to be part of the Lakers roster rather than take his talents to South Bay (L.A.’s G League affiliate).
The exact terms of the deal were not reported by Charania.
Agent Rich Paul mentioned in May in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes that James did not intend to sign a two-way deal.
It’s common for second-round picks, particularly ones late in the draft, to receive two-way contracts and get more playing time with the team’s G League side for development purposes.
Second-rounders also aren’t commonly given fully guaranteed deals and have to go through a negotiation process with the team to determine the salary on their rookie contract.
There is a rookie wage scale for first-round picks that pre-determines how much players can earn over their four-year contracts, depending on how high up they were picked in the draft. However, that doesn’t exist for second-rounders.
In the 2023 draft, only 15 of the players selected in the second round were given non-two-way, guaranteed deals to play with their NBA clubs and only three players after pick 44 were guaranteed. In 2022, only 12 second-rounders were given guaranteed deals.
So far, James is the first and only reported second-rounder to have been handed a guaranteed deal.
In his injury-shortened freshman season at USC, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes per game mostly off the bench.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made a major move by securing Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, with a guaranteed contract, according to a recent report. This news has sent shockwaves through the basketball world, as many fans and analysts are eager to see how the young prospect will fare in the professional league.
Bronny James, who is just 17 years old, has been making a name for himself on the high school basketball circuit. He has shown flashes of his father’s talent and has garnered attention from college scouts and NBA teams alike. With his impressive skill set and basketball IQ, many believe that he has the potential to become a star player in the league.
The Lakers’ decision to offer Bronny James a guaranteed contract is a bold move, but one that could pay off in a big way. By securing the young prospect early on, the team is showing their commitment to developing him into a key player for their franchise. This move also solidifies their relationship with LeBron James, who is currently playing for the Lakers and has expressed his desire to play alongside his son in the NBA.
While there is no guarantee that Bronny James will live up to the hype and expectations that come with being the son of an NBA legend, the Lakers are clearly confident in his abilities. With the right coaching and support, there is no telling how far he can go in the league.
Overall, the news of the Lakers securing Bronny James with a guaranteed contract is a major development in the basketball world. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how the young prospect progresses and whether he can live up to the high expectations that come with being a member of the James family. Only time will tell if this move proves to be a game-changer for the Lakers and their future success on the court.