Guest of the League
From Downtown
Slam Dunk - $20.00 - Contest Completed | NBA Week 26

Lakers second-rounder Bronny James gets rare guaranteed contract

Tue Jul 2 12:53pm ET
Field Level Media

With LeBron James expected back for his 22nd season, the Los Angeles Lakers are breaking NBA norms by guaranteeing the rookie contract for second-round pick Bronny James.

Bronny James, drafted 55th overall, and first-round pick Dalton Knecht were introduced by the Lakers on Tuesday.

Typically, contracts for second-round draft picks aren't guaranteed.

The Athletic reported Bronny James is signing a multiyear contract and will start his career on the Lakers' roster.


LeBron James declined his option for 2024-25 but is expected to re-sign with the Lakers. According to reports, the hold up in signing LeBron is the Lakers' mission to add another experienced veteran. ESPN reported LeBron told general manager Rob Pelinka he would take less money if Los Angeles can sign a quality free agent, such as DeMar DeRozan.

Bronny James, a guard, played 25 games in college at Southern California after suffering cardiac arrest during a summer workout last July. He was seen as a fringe second-round pick and was highly expected to join his future Hall of Fame father in Los Angeles.

Bronny James, 19, had private workouts with only the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns before the draft.

Pelinka said in a statement, "In the history of the NBA, there's never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court and that feels like something that could be magical. We know, and have to respect of course, that LeBron has a decision (due by Saturday) on his opt-out ... but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform."

The Lakers' other superstar, Anthony Davis, endorsed the club selecting his teammate's son.

"He's very good defensively," Davis said of Bronny James to ESPN. "He can read the floor very well. I think he's a really good playmaker. I saw him work out a couple times besides the (Klutch Sports) pro day and working with a big -- his reads, reading the defense, making the right passes -- that was really impressive to me. I think he's going to be fine, man. Obviously it's a lot of pressure on him with his dad being who he is."

Player Notes
Alec Burks Wed Jul 3 5:30pm

ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that veteran guard Alec Burks has signed a one-year deal with the Miami Heat. The 32-year-old was acquired by the New York Knicks from the Detroit Pistons last season and averaged 6.5 points in 13.5 minutes in 23 games during the regular season. He received more playing time in the playoffs when the Knicks were hit with injuries, and scored nearly 18 points per game in the Eastern Conference semifinals. It remains to be seen what type of role Burks will have with the Heat.

Joe Ingles Wed Jul 3 5:20pm

ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that veteran forward Joe Ingles has agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 36-year-old sharpshooter will move on from the Orlando Magic and try to help the Timberwolves take another step forward next season after the team made it to the Western Conference Finals. Ingles has shot 41% from beyond the arc for his career, and will potentially fill the void in Minnesota after they lost Kyle Anderson to free agency.

Jonathan Isaac Wed Jul 3 10:00am

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac has renegotiated his contract with the team, agreeing to a five-year extension. Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Isaac will be paid $84 million for his services. Isaac was set to enter the final season of a four-year, $69.9 million deal. The 26-year-old has spent much of his NBA career in the treatment room but has proven himself as a fantastic defender. Despite averaging only 15.8 minutes across 58 games in 2023-24, Isaac led the Magic with 1.2 blocks. He also lowered opponents' shooting accuracy when guarding them by six percent to share a league-best mark with Defensive Player of the Year Award winner Rudy Gobert. Offensively, Isaac contributed 6.8 points off the Magic bench while grabbing 4.5 rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell Tue Jul 2 9:40am

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has agreed to a three-year extension with the team. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, it's a $150.3 million maximum contract extension that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. Mitchell has just completed his second season with the Cavaliers, becoming the first guard since Allen Iverson to average 20-plus points in each of his first seven campaigns in the NBA. The 27-year-old has posted 27.5 points per game with 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals for his Cavaliers career. Mitchell is a very productive piece for fantasy managers, but he's had trouble staying on the court -- the five-time All-Star has missed 41 games across the past two seasons.

Russell Westbrook Mon Jul 1 9:00pm

Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook has received interest from the Denver Nuggets, with Nikola Jokic reportedly pushing "behind the scenes" for a deal to get done. The 35-year-old is coming off his worst season, finishing the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He recently picked up his $4 million player option with the Clippers. However, a move to Denver could help Westbrook get back on track from a statistical standpoint, considering the Nuggets recently lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, meaning there are minutes up for grabs.

Lauri Markkanen Mon Jul 1 8:50pm

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo.com, the Utah Jazz are "welcoming calls" on forward Lauri Markkanen. With Klay Thompson and Paul George no longer available, many teams around the National Basketball Association remain hopeful of upgrading their rosters. As a result, teams have expressed interest in the 27-year-old, with Golden State specifically mentioned as the club with the most interest. Markkanen finished last season by averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 39.9% from behind the arc. It appears he's found his footing with the Jazz, so his fantasy outlook may not be as bright if he gets moved to another team. Fantasy managers also hope Markkanen can figure out how to stay on the floor, considering he has missed 43 games due to injury since joining the Jazz.

Donovan Mitchell Mon Jul 1 7:20pm

According to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cavaliers still believe guard Donovan Mitchell will agree to a contract extension with the team. "We feel good about Donovan," said president of basketball operations Koby Altman, who recently flew out to Los Angeles with new head coach Kenny Atkinson to visit Mitchell. "He's really invested in what we're doing, and hopefully soon we'll have more of a decisive answer." The 27-year-old appeared in 55 games in 2023-24, averaging 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. He's eligible to sign a four-year deal worth over $200 million. But regardless of what happens with his future in Cleveland, Mitchell is expected to remain at least a top-20 fantasy option. However, he is capable of cracking the top-10, although he'll need to stay healthy, which has been an issue.

Jayson Tatum Mon Jul 1 7:10pm

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum agreed to a five-year, $315 million supermax contract extension on Monday. It's the largest deal in NBA history, and it comes after the 2017 No. 3 overall pick led the Celtics to their first championship since 2008. Without question, Tatum is worth every penny. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting 37.6% from behind the arc. The 26-year-old is a first-round fantasy option heading into 2024-25, even more so since he's played at least 74 games in each of the previous three seasons.

Derrick White Mon Jul 1 4:00pm

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White will stay in Boston for another four years after agreeing to a new deal on Friday. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the former San Antonio Spur has agreed to a four-year, $125.9 million deal. He's proven to be an impact player the moment he was traded to Boston and has been named to the All-Defensive Second Team twice in a row. Last year, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting .461/.396/.901. White has been a star role player and one of the best fantasy assets outside of the league's superstars. He'll likely remain in the same role as the Celtics look to run it back after a championship season.

Tyrese Maxey Mon Jul 1 9:50am

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey has committed himself long-term to the team. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Maxey has agreed in principle on a five-year, $204 million maximum contract extension with the 76ers. The 23-year-old lands himself a massive extension following a superb campaign that led to his first All-Star selection. Maxey boosted his scoring numbers by over five points per game to 25.9 and had career-highs across the board in rebounding (2.9), assists (6.2), and steals (1.0). He will be a huge piece for Philadelphia going forward, although the arrival of Paul George could mean fewer touches offensively for Maxey, which might hurt his fantasy value.

Naji Marshall Sun Jun 30 10:40pm

Free-agent forward Naji Marshall agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. The 26-year-old had spent the last four seasons with the Pelicans, where he averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Marshall will likely see routine minutes for Dallas moving ahead. However, he hasn't been a reliable fantasy contributor since entering the league, and that's not expected to change.

Cade Cunningham Sun Jun 30 10:30pm

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham agreed to a five-year, $226 million extension with the team. The Pistons are rebuilding. However, the franchise wants to keep Cunningham at the forefront. The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 22.7 points and 7.5 assists last season. But he logged 3.4 turnovers during the 2023-24 campaign, so that's an area that needs to improve. Cunningham also hasn't played more than 64 games in any of his three seasons, which will cause his fantasy value to drop until he proves he can stay healthy.

Andre Drummond Sun Jun 30 10:30pm

Free-agent center Andre Drummond agreed to a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Sixers. This will be Drummond's second stint with the Sixers, with the veteran suiting up for the franchise back in the 2021-22 campaign. He finished last season with the Bulls by averaging 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds. The 30-year-old is arguably the best rebounder in the league, and there's a good chance he will get meaningful minutes in Philly, considering the team will focus on trying to keep Joel Embiid healthy moving ahead.

Russell Westbrook Sun Jun 30 10:30pm

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Los Angeles Clippers are working with guard Russell Westbrook on a trade. The 35-year-old picked up his $4 million player option on Saturday. However, it appears he's already played his final game for the franchise. Westbrook averaged 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.1 steals during the 2023-24 campaign. Although his best days are behind him, it's reasonable to believe his production will improve if given a chance to return to the starting lineup for whatever team he lands on next.

Eric Gordon Sun Jun 30 10:10pm

Free-agent guard/forward Eric Gordon agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The veteran has bounced around since entering the league in 2008 as the No. 7 overall pick. While his production has dropped significantly, he still finished last season with the Phoenix Suns by averaging 11.0 points and 37.8% shooting from deep. Gordon won't be a consistent fantasy producer in Philly. However, he may have more than a few impactful performances, especially since he may start some games during the 2024-25 campaign.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Sun Jun 30 10:00pm

Free-agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a three-year, $66 million contract with the Orlando Magic. The veteran has spent the last two seasons with the Denver Nuggets and was instrumental in helping the team capture an NBA title in 2022-23. He finished last season by averaging 10.1 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 40.6% from behind the arc. Orlando needed a reliable shooting guard, and Caldwell-Pope's championship experience could help the team advance deep into the postseason in 2024-25. His durability and efficiency from deep should continue to make him an attractive commodity for fantasy managers, especially those participating in category formats.

Chris Paul Sun Jun 30 9:50pm

Free agent guard Chris Paul will sign a one-year, $11 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. After being in the league for nearly two decades, Paul's production has dipped significantly. He appeared in 58 games for the Warriors last season, finishing with averages of 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, and 1.2 steals. While the 39-year-old likely won't be a consistent producer for the up-and-coming Spurs, his presence will be invaluable for the development of reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and the rest of the young players on a team hoping at least to earn a Play-In bid in 2024-25.

Jonas Valanciunas Sun Jun 30 9:40pm

Free agent center Jonas Valanciunas agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards. The 2011 No. 5 overall pick has been a double-double-caliber producer since entering the league. However, as expected with any aging player, his statistical contributions have declined over the years. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds. While Valanciunas should have some productive showings in 2024-25, it will be difficult for him to be a routine fantasy contributor, considering Washington has guys like Alex Sarr, Richaun Holmes, and Marvin Bagley III on the roster.

Paul George Sun Jun 30 5:00pm

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, there is "growing optimism" that the Philadelphia 76ers will sign forward Paul George in free agency. The 34-year-old declined his $48.7 million player option with the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, putting him in line to hit the open market. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while shooting 41.3% from behind the arc. While George isn't getting any younger, the 76ers will enhance their championship chances by adding him to the roster. Fantasy managers should continue to see top-25 production in 2024-25, regardless of where he signs, assuming he stays healthy.

Precious Achiuwa Sun Jun 30 11:00am

New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa won't be extended a qualifying offer by the organization. He'll become a free agent after averaging 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 24.2 minutes per game last season. Achiuwa was a reliable contributor but the Knicks appear to have other options. They've traded for Mikal Bridges and re-signed OG Anunoby, so we'll see if they attempt to bring back Achiuwa. He should be able to offer serviceable value to just about any team he joins this offseason.