The Lakers wasted no time in doing precisely what we knew they had been doing: Signing Bronny James to a contract. It simply so occurred that he grew to become the primary second spherical decide to signal, a four-year deal, and with the brand new CBA folks noticed the announcement and commenced to lose it.
Bronny James has agreed to a four-year, $7.9 million take care of the Lakers, a league supply advised ESPN. Team possibility on the fourth 12 months.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 3, 2024
On the floor this appears past ludicrous. To be honest, it’s the largest contract of all time given to a second spherical rookie decide — however it has nothing to do with LeBron or nepotism; it’s simply the brand new regular of the 2023 CBA. The minimum annual salary for a 4-year deal is strictly what Bronny acquired, which suggests the whole cash aspect of this had nothing to do with who his dad is. The reality is that revenues are rising, the wage cap is increasing — and that’s why we hold seeing new information for contracts, with the trickle down impact being that rookies are getting extra money in consequence.
Pelle Larsson, the primary second-rounder to signal this 12 months received a three-year, $5.4 million deal from the Miami Heat — and had they added a fourth 12 months he would have been on the very same contract as Bronny James.
Now, we are able to definitely argue in regards to the nature of this deal. A second spherical decide with as many questions as Bronny getting a contract earlier than Summer League is certainly a perk of being LeBron’s son — however within the grand scheme of issues it’s actually a minor challenge. He’s the No. 55 decide, who in all probability received’t contribute a lot, and incomes just below $2M a 12 months is relative chump change, commensurate with what nearly all of deep rotation guys will make this season.
In the top that is all no hurt, no foul. LeBron goes to trip out his profession in Los Angeles, play along with his son, proceed with enterprise ventures within the metropolis — and sail off into the sundown.