Should Bronny James be cut from the LA Lakers before the NBA season starts?

After being selected as the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny James has struggled to make an impact on the Los Angeles Lakers roster as the NBA season approaches.

James' first chance to make an impression was at the Las Vegas Summer League tournament against fellow rookies and G-League players. Unfortunately, he failed to make a substantial impact, averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and one assist.

After starting the Summer League with a measly eight and two points, Bronny finished the Las Vegas tournament with an improved 12 and 13 points, heading into the preseason with the actual Lakers roster.

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Since joining up with his dad, LeBron James, Bronny has played in four preseason games for the Los Angeles Lakers, and his numbers don't support keeping him in the Lakers' rotation.

Bronny struggled significantly in his first three preseason games, shooting one of eleven from the field in 35 minutes. In his fourth game against Golden State, the 20-year-old played nine minutes, hitting one of five attempts from the field.

Numbers don't lie, and it's clear that Bronny James is not ready to make the 15-man roster in Los Angeles. One former Laker believes he's been allowed to 'coast' because his dad is LeBron James.

According to Sports Illustrated, former number-one pick Kwame Brown said: "He's not a very good shooter yet. He sucks. Well, he would have had a better go at it if he did those two things – run the floor for layups and get into the heart of the defense."

"He doesn't have an offensive rhythm right now, so be young. Nobody can control your ability to run. But I see a kid just coasting because he has a guaranteed contract. Anybody else in that position would be cut."

Undoubtedly, no other 55th pick has received more scrutiny or criticism than Bronny James. Before the draft, he was viewed as a project in which he would become the player they wanted him to be in a few years.

According to AP News, the Lakers may have to cut their losses on Bronny James now because the odds of a 55th pick making any sizeable contribution to the NBA are incredibly slim.

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Out of the last 30 NBA Drafts, only two number 55 picks have scored over 1500 points in the NBA. One is Patty Mills, and the other is E'Twaun Moore.

Only eleven of those picks have scored more than 100 points in the NBA, and 13 of the 30 have precisely zero points in the league. Furthermore, a third of the picks didn't even get into a game.

Despite the sufficient evidence that he should be cut from the roster, he will likely make it due to the nature of his contract and the long-term vision they have for him.

James signed a four-year contract that was fully guaranteed through the first two seasons. It is unlikely the Lakers would suffer the cap hit associated with cutting a player with Bronny's guaranteed contracts.

The main factor in keeping Bronny James on the roster is keeping LeBron James motivated and happy with the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite being 39, James performs at an All-NBA level and can still dictate games down the stretch.

If Bronny is kept on the Lakers roster, he and LeBron James will have the opportunity to become the first father-and-son duo to play in an NBA regular season game together.

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