Lakers Right Not to Trade Bronny James Amid NBA Rumors After LeBron's 76ers Contract in Free Agency

LeBron James made headlines Friday when ESPN's Shams Charania reported that he had signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for two years and $8 million. While some would assume that means it is only a matter of time before his son, Bronny, joins him in the City of Brotherly Love, that may not be the case.

Lakers beat writer Khobi Price told the "Brock and Alex Show" on 97.1 The Fan:

"The Lakers are more than happy to keep Bronny James. They drafted him in the second round two years ago. They developed him. They're a fan of him. He has a lot of people who like him within the building. It's not going to be one of those situations where they're just going to send Bronny to wherever LeBron goes. It would take something real for the Lakers to want to trade him," (h/t Silver Screen and Roll for the transcription).

Ramona Shelbourne reported that Rich Paul, agent for LeBron and Bronny, told ESPN, "they are not a package deal" and that there is "no current plan or request for Bronny Janes to join his father in Philly."

She added, "Bronny James recently had his contract guaranteed by the Lakers, whose staff has a fondness for him, according to sources."

Dan Woike of The Athletic reported, "assumptions that the father and son staying linked going forward are false."

Nor should they be linked.

Bronny's stats do not jump off the stat sheet by any stretch, with just 2.9 points, 0.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 steals in 42 games last season, but his playing time was limited. He did benefit from meaningful playing time in the postseason series against Houston, though.

If the Lakers do genuinely like the second-generation player and want to keep him on the roster, they absolutely should resist any urge or pressure to trade him, for reasons beyond just his play on the court.

Trading him anywhere, let alone Philadelphia, only emboldens those who criticized the organization for selecting him in the second round because his father was the face of the franchise. It opens the team, looking to move on from LeBron, up for scrutiny. It keeps attention on a bygone era rather than what the team is currently building for the long term.

Considering the success of the organization, this season will be compared to the future Hall of Famer anyway, giving fans, media, and detractors another reason to talk about the greatest player of his generation in relation to the Lakers is an ill-fated move.

An explosive athlete with steady defensive reliability, Bronny has plenty to offer the Lakers moving forward, especially if he can find more playing time.

Los Angeles is desperately looking to improve that side of the ball, as evidenced by its signing of Matisse Thybulle and its reluctance to trade Jarred Vanderbilt. The team should also be inclined to see what it has in James and let him attempt to prove himself outside of his father's enormous shadow.