Bronny James is preparing for what could be a pivotal third NBA season after spending his first two years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Selected with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the young guard again split time between the Lakers and G League affiliate South Bay during his 2025-26 campaign.
Although he remains a developing prospect, Bronny is expected to take the next leap and become a valuable two-way guard next season. For the first time in his professional career, however, there is real uncertainty surrounding where Bronny will begin the season after his father, LeBron James, elected to leave the Lakers after eight seasons and enter free agency.
With LeBron weighing several contenders, talks have grown about whether Bronny could also be on the move.
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The latest trade report has only added fuel to that speculation. According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Cleveland Cavaliers are believed to be keeping an open roster spot with the possibility of trading for Bronny James if LeBron signs with Cleveland.
“They want to make sure that they have open roster spots to be able to trade for the Lakers' Bronny James in the event that they are able to welcome Dad back as a free agent signee.”
The report comes amid a growing belief around the league that Cleveland has emerged as the frontrunner for James.
If that scenario plays out, it would reunite basketball’s most famous father-son pairing. LeBron and Bronny made NBA history in October 2024 when they became the first father and son to appear in the same NBA game.
They later added another milestone when LeBron recorded the league’s first father-son assist. The four-time MVP passed to Bronny for a 3-pointer in the second quarter of the Lakers‘ game against the Brooklyn Nets in March.
LeBron’s agent Rich Paul, has acknowledged that 27 teams have reached out regarding the league’s all-time leading scorer (h/t Dave McMenamin of ESPN). The Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets are all believed to be in the mix. Paul has maintained that LeBron’s decision will ultimately come down to finding the best basketball situation for the final chapter of his career.
At the moment, nothing has been finalized, but all eyes will be on LeBron’s big decision in and how it impacts Bronny’s future in Los Angeles.
