Sports

Lakers’ rush of moves prove they’re done making excuses for Bronny James

Lake Show Life · Jul 21, 2026 17:00 · 3 min read

Lakers’ rush of moves prove they’re done making excuses for Bronny James — Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) and father LeBron James (23) react in the first half against the Houston Rockets during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Los Angeles Lakers have been as active as any team in the NBA this summer. In the process, they've sent a clear message to Bronny James.

Bronny James has spent his first two NBA seasons benefiting from rather unique circumstances. The Los Angeles Lakers guard has struggled to establish himself as a nightly fixture in the rotation, but has received a steady flow of opportunities due to the roster being depleted by injuries and generally devoid of developing young players.

As the Lakers continue to add to the roster with promising up-and-comers and veterans in or entering their prime, however, the time for patience with James is running out.

James is on the ultimately team-friendly contract at four years and $7,895,796. As such, there admittedly isn't much risk involved in keeping him on the roster from a financial perspective. Even if he struggles again in 2026-27, there's a reasonable chance he'll still be on the roster in 2027-28.

The tide is turning in Los Angeles, however, as the purple and gold are finally investing in a youth movement while prioritizing prime-year veterans rather than players who are in their 30s.

At guard alone, the Lakers have complemented Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves with the likes of Cameron Carr, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy, and Collin Sexton. That doesn't even account for the possibility of players such as Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero taking a step forward in 2026-27.

In the simplest of terms: In 2026-27, James won't have the same luxury of being a rare guard who's willing to defend or one of the few up-and-comers worth attempting to develop. He'll need to truly let his game speak for itself in order to receive regular minutes.

Bronny James has a far more challenging path to minutes in 2026-27

Doncic and Reaves will play big minutes, but there's inevitably going to be the space for guards to work alongside them. Chances are, the three players who will at least be prioritized early in the season are Carr, Grimes, and Sexton.

Carr was the Lakers' first-round pick, dominated summer league, and has clear 3-and-D potential at the 2 and 3 spots. Grimes and Sexton, meanwhile, are proven and productive veterans.

Grimes was also signed to a four-year, $60 million contract that incentivizes Los Angeles to get a return on its investment. That hardly even accounts for the fact that he's a known catch-and-shoot specialist who has played alongside Doncic in the past and is a solid wing defender who can play on or away from the ball on either end of the floor.

As for Sexton, he's the scoring threat the Lakers' second unit has been missing, with career averages of 18.3 points per game and 22.8 points per 36 minutes on .472/.389/.841 shooting.

Lakers have fielded a competitive rotation with youth and defenders

The group that may prove most threatening to James' minutes, however, isn't the veterans. It's the up-and-comers who have suddenly redefined Los Angeles' youth movement, with Carr, Hardy, Jake LaRavia, Knecht, Thiero, and Ziaire Williams all 25 or younger.

Even a veteran like Matisse Thybulle could complicate James' minutes, as he's a more versatile and proven on-ball defender who offers similar efficiency on low-volume shooting.

This all adds up to James facing an uphill battle. In the past, he's benefited from the lack of young players in the pipeline, let alone how few defensive specialists were on the roster. Los Angeles has built a younger and more balanced rotation this summer, however, which means untapped potential and the flaws of his teammates will no longer be enough to clear a path for him to play.

If James is going to carve out a role in JJ Redick's rotation, then he'll need to prove he's a better option than a far longer list of promising young players and quality defenders than ever before.