The 2024 NBA Draft Lottery happened yesterday. The big winners were the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, grabbing the 1st and 3rd picks in the 2024 Draft, respectively. However, the Los Angeles Lakers should also thank their stars, awarded the 17th pick in the 2024 Draft. But there’s a caveat, along with speculations surrounding Bronny James’ prospects for the pick. Notably, the Pelicans have a chance to acquire the 17th pick from the Lakers as a part of Anthony Davis’ 2019 trade.

The New Orleans Pelicans haven’t expressed an interest in acquiring LA’s 17th pick as of now. Many believe that the Lakers could select Bronny James with the 17th pick in order to entice LeBron James to sign another contract extension with them. After all, LeBron has stated on multiple occasions that he dreams of sharing a court with Bronny. The Lakers’ hierarchy is also open to drafting Bronny. But ‘Lakers Nation’ doesn’t want their beloved team to select Bronny with the 17th pick, with Sean Davis claiming that the team should select someone more accomplished.

However, the Pelicans could pour water on LA’s well-thought-out plan if they decide to acquire the 17th pick. Instead of being selected by the Lakers, Bronny could be picked by the Pels, which might entice LeBron James to team up with Zion Williamson. Having said that, many experts have predicted that Bronny James would either go undrafted or would be a late second-round pick. Therefore, using the 17th pick on him would make no sense for both the Lakers and the Pelicans.

What does the future hold for Bronny James?

It’s safe to suggest that things haven’t gone according to plan for Bronny James in his freshman year, playing for the USC Trojans. Of course, the cardiac arrest he suffered in July 2023 marked its impact on his underwhelming season. Moreover, within the limited game time that he received in the 2023-24 season, Bronny failed to prove his critics wrong. He managed to average just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 25 games.

Due to his subpar showings for the Trojans, many believed that Bronny James would go undrafted in the 2024 Draft. ESPN’s latest draft projections predicted him to be a second-round pick in the 2025 Draft. Hence, it came as a surprise to many that he decided to enlist in the 2024 NBA Draft. Moreover, Bronny also maintained college eligibility as he entered the transfer portal.

Now, Bronny James has started his workouts with NBA teams. He has also received medical clearance from the NBA. At the moment, the Lakers appear to be Bronny’s most likely future destination in the NBA. However, if he decides to forego the draft and play another season of college basketball, the Ohio State Buckeyes would be the most likely landing spot for Bronny.