There is a landscape-shifting event in the NBA that is right on the horizon. Now that the 2023 NBA Draft is in the rearview mirror, we're already looking ahead to next June.
Bronny is being mocked somewhere around the late lottery of the 2024 draft based on his talent and a mediocre class that he's competing against. In a vacuum, that wouldn't be too exciting on its own.
But what makes Bronny's draft stock much more intriguing is the possibility that his father, LeBron, will join him wherever he gets picked. LeBron has the opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent after this upcoming season with the Lakers. Bronny and LeBron on the same team would be the NBA's answer to Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr. sharing the outfield together.
The possibility of getting both Bronny and LeBron for a season should make the value of those 2024 lottery picks skyrocket. Here's where things stand now including which teams have picks, how LeBron's contract plays into the timing and how USC's roster could impact everything.
MORE: NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams in 2023
LeBron James' contract and Bronny James draft eligibility
LeBron specifically structured his most recent contract to allow him to enter free agency in the summer of 2024, aligning with when Bronny would enter the NBA. He will have an estimated $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season that would let him stay on the Lakers. If he declines that option, then he will become an unrestricted free agent and can join any team.
LeBron stated his strong desire to play with Bronny during the 2022 All-Star game.
“My last year will be played with my son,” LeBron told The Athletic. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
If LeBron is serious about putting money aside, then he could theoretically join any of the 30 teams in the league that draft Bronny on a veteran's minimum salary.
Which NBA teams have 2024 draft picks?
The thought of getting a lottery talent in Bronny and a still-elite player like LeBron has to have teams salivating and looking towards the future.
As of now, the Clippers and Nets are the only teams completely out of the running in the Bronny sweepstakes as they do not own any first-round picks in 2024. The Lakers might not have a pick either.
The other 27 teams all have at least an outside chance of selecting in the draft, depending on how their pick protections end up.
Here are the picks and obligations for all 30 teams in the 2024 draft, via RealGM.
| Team | First round picks |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Own; Kings 15-30 |
| Boston Celtics | Own |
| Brooklyn Nets | None |
| Charlotte Hornets | 1-14 Own; 15-30 to Spurs |
| Chicago Bulls | Own; Blazers 15-30 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Own |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1-10 Own; 11-30 to Knicks |
| Denver Nuggets | Own |
| Detroit Pistons | 1-18 Own; 19-30 to Knicks |
| Golden State Warriors | 1-4 Own; 5-30 to Grizzlies |
| Houston Rockets | 1-4 Own; 5-30 to Thunder; Nets' pick |
| Indiana Pacers | Own |
| Los Angeles Clippers | None |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Pelicans have the option to take either their 2024 or 2025 pick |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Own; Warriors 5-30 |
| Miami Heat | Own |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Own or Pelicans |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Own |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Own or swap for Bucks; Lakers unless Pelicans defer |
| New York Knicks | Own; Mavericks 11-30; Pistons 19-30; Wizards 13-30 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Own; Rockets 5-30; Clippers; Jazz 11-30 |
| Orlando Magic | Own |
| Philadelphia Sixers | Own |
| Phoenix Suns | Own |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1-14 Own; 15-30 to Bulls |
| Sacramento Kings | 1-14 Own; 15-30 to Hawks |
| San Antonio Spurs | Own; Hornets 15-30, Raptors 7-30 |
| Toronto Raptors | 1-6 Own; 7-30 to Spurs |
| Utah Jazz | 1-10 Own; 11-30 to Thunder |
| Washington Wizards | 1-12 Own; 13-30 to Knicks |
Teams with best odds to draft Bronny and sign LeBron
Based on how these teams are projected to finish the season, the Thunder will have the best chance in the Bronny sweepstakes. They could easily have three picks in the lottery and four total first round picks.
The Spurs are the other team with multiple shots at Bronny, owning their own pick and the Raptors' pick if it falls between 7 and 30.
The Hornets, Bulls, Knicks, Mavericks, Pistons, Pacers, Pelicans, Magic, Blazers, and Wizards all have a realistic shot at getting one lottery pick.
Of course, how Bronny — the nation's 22nd-ranked prospect in the Class of 2023 — plays at USC will go a long way towards determining if he truly evolves into a viable first-round prospect. He joins a USC team that not only features the nation's top-rated freshman and fellow guard Isaiah Collier but also returns fifth-year senior guard Boogie Ellis who led the Trojans in scoring last season. This is not a situation where Bronny walks in from Day 1 to showcase as the top offensive option.
The Bronny sweepstakes will be intriguing to follow as the year progresses. If LeBron is truly serious about playing with his son, then it could be a wild contest to see who can land Bronny in the draft.
