One way to get LeBron James to stay in Los Angeles is to: Put his son Bronny to work. 

The Athletic reports that the Lakers are “willing to explore the notion” of adding Bronny James as a rookie next season if that means the NBA’s all-time leading scorer stays in Los Angeles. James has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024–2025 season.

Bronny could join the 2024 NBA Draft, but we don’t know if he will. He can do so after his freshman year at USC. There is no doubt that the Lakers know that picking Bronny would make his dad happy.

It’s also no secret that LeBron wants to play with his son. This is his 21st season in the NBA. That being said, The Athletic says that other teams are considering going after Bronny if and when he enters the NBA Draft in order to get LeBron.

Before this year’s NBA trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors did try to get James as they try to win another title. James and the Lakers both said no to it.

The Athletic says that some executives who work for teams other than the Lakers are “increasingly convinced” that LeBron wants to leave the Lakers. 

On December 31, LeBron will turn 40 years old. However, he is still one of the best players in the NBA, which is why teams are always trying to sign him if they can. Every game, he scores 24.8 points, grabs 7.2 boards, and hands out 7.8 assists.

At the same time, Bronny isn’t playing like a player who would be picked first in the 2024 NBA Draft. His first year with the Trojans might not even be good enough for a lottery pick because they aren’t very good.

Bronny has played 16 games and has averaged 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He has started six of those games. He’s also only making 35.6% of his shots from the field and 27.1% of his three-point shots.

Also, it’s important to remember that Bronny had a heart attack in July and missed the beginning of the season. In the end, he was able to play in December.