Shocking Bronny Move Could Force LeBron James to Backtrack on Joel Embiid Rejection

Before the trade deadline, LeBron James, had the Los Angeles Lakers front office shaking with his cryptic hourglass emoji on X. However, Daryl Morey saw that as a cue to pursue James’ services. An ESPN report later revealed that Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers were exploring the possibility of trading for the Lakers superstar. But James and the Lakers swiftly rebuffed the trade overture. However, whispers now suggest that James might soon reconsider his initial stance.

LeBron James’ declarations of playing with his son under the NBA lights are well documented. The Lakers forward even confirmed that he would join any team that drafted Bronny to have a shot at playing alongside him. As a result, numerous teams are now competing to sign the USC Trojans guard, hoping to secure his father’s services. According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the 76ers are a potential contender to do so.

Pincus explains how such a deal would come to fruition, “What if the Sixers used their first- or second-round pick in June to draft Bronny James? Should his father, LeBron James (No. 1 on our free-agent big board), opt out of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia could have just enough to max him out at around $50 million. That would give the Sixers another $7 million in space, plus the room mid-level exception of about $8 million to flesh out a roster with Paul Reed, Embiid, Maxey and the James father-and-son pairing.”

This potential deal could be a game-changer for the 76ers looking to win their first championship, the hopes of which have been dashed because of Joel Embiid‘s knee injury this season. Pairing James next to Embiid and Tyrese Maxey would instantly vault them into the ranks of Eastern Conference juggernauts. However, this tantalizing possibility hinges on whether Bronny James declares for the draft this year.

Bronny James stands at a career crossroads

Bronny James’ freshman season at USC came to a screeching halt on March 14 after the Arizona Wildcats dispatched them in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals with a 70-49 blowout loss. The 19-year-old’s season was largely forgettable, as he mustered up only 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 25 games. Moreover, he connected only 36.6% of his field goals and shot at a 26.7% efficiency from beyond the arc. His underwhelming stats this season have had a significant impact on his draft stock. Many people have suggested that he should stay in college for another year to further develop his skills.

However, with the 2024 NBA Draft considered one of the weaker classes and several teams hungry for LeBron’s services, it would be no surprise if Bronny does enlist in the draft this year. In any case, Bronny’s future will be a story to follow this summer.

Read More: Is LeBron James Worried About Son Bronny’s Mismanagement in the NBA Amid Ownership Tease?