Bronny James Traded to Knicks in Proposed Deal
Bronny James and his father LeBron James could be heading to the New York Knicks as part of a proposed three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks, according to Sports Illustrated's Jackson Caudell.
The Lakers are considering their options with LeBron James, who opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, and may use him as a trade piece to bring in other talent.
The proposed trade would send LeBron and Bronny James to the Knicks, with the Lakers receiving Josh Hart and OG Anunoby in return, and the Hawks taking on Maxi Kleber's contract.
This trade would be significant for Bronny James, who would be joining a new team and potentially playing a key role in their lineup, on October 30, 2024, he was seen talking with LeBron James on the bench during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Lakers are looking to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and this trade could give them the cap space to do so, with Hart and Anunoby bringing their own salaries, but offering a better long-term fit for the roster.
The trade is still just a proposal, and it's unclear if it will come to fruition, but it's an interesting possibility for the Lakers and the James family, with the Lakers aiming to maximize their cap space for championship aspirations.
The opportunity to move LeBron James for two pieces is a welcome one, as taking his salary off the books, along with Kleber's contract, would create breathing room, and Hart and Anunoby bring their own salaries, but their deals offer a better long-term fit for the roster.
And the Lakers would also gain more room to sign Reaves to an extension, which is reportedly going to be lucrative, and will push the Lakers deep into the luxury tax, as they also find other upgrades this offseason, especially in the frontcourt.
Hart, 31, is on a four-year deal worth around $81 million, and Anunoby, 28, is on a five-year, $212.5 million extension, having both together means the Lakers lose three pieces in this proposal, but their ages and defensive profiles align with upgrading the Lakers' perimeter without the aging curve of James.
The looming extension for Reaves will reportedly be lucrative, and the Lakers will need to navigate the luxury tax to make it work, but this trade could be a step in the right direction, with the Lakers looking to build a competitive roster around their young stars.
The proposed trade is an interesting development in the NBA offseason, and it will be worth watching to see if it comes to fruition, with the Lakers, Knicks, and Hawks all having different motivations and needs, on 18 Jun, the Lakers were still considering their options, and this trade is just one possibility.
The Lakers are looking to build a championship team, and this trade could be a key part of that process, with Bronny James and his father potentially playing a major role in the Knicks' lineup, and the Lakers gaining the cap space to make other moves, according to Caudell, the trade is not the worst idea, and it could give the Lakers more room to sign Reaves to an extension.
The trade is still just a proposal, but it's an interesting possibility, and it will be worth watching to see how it develops, with the Lakers, Knicks, and Hawks all having different motivations and needs, and the James family potentially on the move, as the NBA offseason continues to unfold, with significant implications for the Lakers' championship aspirations