Bronny James, Lakers' Top Draft Targets After JJ Redick's Rumored HC Contract
The Los Angeles Lakers have a new head coach, hiring ESPN analyst and former NBA shooting guard JJ Redick on Thursday according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Although the Lakers nearly reached an agreement with UConn head coach Dan Hurley, he eventually walked away from a six-year contract offer worth $70 million. Now, Redick will attempt to help Los Angeles go on a deep playoff run in his first job patrolling the sidelines after the team previously fired Darvin Ham on May 3.
Per Wojnarowski, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka wants a coaching staff around Redick that will "prioritize the development of young players" such as Austin Reaves and Max Christie. This likely includes the development of a few incoming rookies, as Los Angeles owns multiple selections in the 2024 NBA draft.
With the first round of the draft starting on June 26 before the second round wraps up on June 27, the Lakers own the No. 17 overall pick as well as the No. 55 choice. One name that has consistently cropped up in pre-draft rumors for Los Angeles has been former USC guard Bronny James, given his relationship with LeBron James.
Here are three potential draft targets for the Lakers following the hiring of Redick as the team's new head coach.
Bronny James, USC
1 of 3
James is coming off an up-and-down freshman season with the Trojans, as he wasn't able to make his debut with the team until Dec. 10 after suffering cardiac arrest during an offseason summer workout.
He bounced back and forth between the starting lineup and the bench throughout his 25 appearances with the team, averaging 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game. While he shot 48.1 percent on two-point field goals, his three-point percentage of 26.7 percent dropped his overall field goal percentage to 36.6 percent.
Still, his athleticism and defensive potential have made him a candidate to join Los Angeles with the latter of the team's two picks. James likely eased some concerns regarding his shooting by connecting on 19 of his 25 three-point attempts during a shooting drill at the NBA draft combine in May (h/t ESPN's Jamal Collier).
He worked out for the Lakers on June 13, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. Per Woike, the 19-year-old's "athleticism, defensive potential and shooting at the Chicago draft combine have certainly interested the Lakers."
In the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, James was selected by the Lakers at No. 55 overall.
Although LeBron James' future with Los Angeles is uncertain due to a looming $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, the team should still remain interested in his son with Redick in the mix.
Tristan Da Silva, Colorado
2 of 3
With James' presumably the Lakers' top choice with the No. 55 pick, Colorado forward Tristan Da Silva could be a target for Los Angeles at No. 17.
ESPN's Jeremy Woo reported that the Lakers were one of several teams that have "expressed interest" in Da Silva. It's easy to see why, as the three-year starter should fit alongside a veteran roster if Pelinka pursues another postseason run with James and Anthony Davis leading the way.
While he's older than most of his fellow 2024 draft peers at 23 years old, Da Silva could still carve out a rotation spot as a rookie due to his high floor as a prospect. He's coming off a senior campaign in which he averaged 16.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 49.3/39.5/83.5 shooting splits, marking the third straight year in which he shot over 37 percent from three.
Although Wasserman noted that Da Silva has athletic limitations, he also explained the safety that comes with selecting a prospect such as him.
"Teams valuing safety and shooting over upside could be drawn to Da Silva in the late lottery or teens," he wrote.
Given his positional versatility as well as his long-range shooting prowess, he should fit well alongside James and Davis even if he takes some time to adjust to the NBA pace.
Zach Edey, Purdue
3 of 3
Although Anthony Davis quieted injury concerns by appearing in 76 games during his 2023-24 campaign, the Lakers could still add some depth at center in the form of Zach Edey.
After winning his second straight Big Ten Player of the Year award at Purdue, the 7'4" center entered the draft. His size allowed him to become one of the country's top rim protectors with the Boilermakers, deterring opposing drives with his 7'10.75" wingspan and recording 2.2 blocks per game as a senior.
The Lakers have already conducted a pre-draft workout with Edey, per Woike.
"While there are mobility concerns on the defensive end, Edey is scheduled for a workout with the Lakers before the draft and could be a real option for the team," he wrote on June 13.
In addition to his shot-blocking ability, Edey also developed his interior scoring throughout his college career. After averaging a commendable 22.3 points on 60.7 percent shooting as a junior, he raised his scoring output as well as his efficiency by recording 25.2 points each night while hitting 62.3 percent of his shots in his final year at the school.
He was selected by Los Angeles at No. 17 overall in Wasserman's latest mock draft.
It may be unrealistic for Edey to completely turn around the Lakers' defense in his rookie season, but he should provide a boost to the team's overall rim protection while learning under Davis.
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