El Segundo, California – Three days after LeBron James’ podcast partner was named head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the organization drafted Bronny, James’ oldest kid.

Unless they rename the organization after him next, it’s hard to think of anything else the Lakers could do to ensure the greatest scorer in NBA history stays with them for the remainder of his unrivaled career.

Well, sort of finally securing a third superstar for James after years of effort.

The Lakers Have Hired Redick And Drafted Bronny. They Clearly Hope To Lock Down LeBron For Good Next

Although James’ future remains uncertain until he publicly selects where he will play next season, the Lakers selection of his 19-year-old son in the second round of the NBA Thursday appears to make it extremely improbable that LeBron will be anywhere other than Los Angeles in the fall.

“The biggest moments in sports happen with the Lakers,” remarked general manager Rob Pelinka. “That’s how we’re built, and we’re excited to see this story unfold.”

LeBron and Bronny — that is, LeBron James Jr. — would be the first father and son to play in the NBA simultaneously, let alone on the same team. If LeBron Sr. exercises his $51.4 million player option for next season this week, he can accompany his kid to work in the fall.

Pelinka was careful not to get ahead of himself while bragging about Bronny’s potential, but the general manager recognized that a father-son coupling in purple and gold was “something that could be magical.”

“We know and have to respect, of course, that LeBron has a decision about his opt-out,” Pelinka told the audience. “I’m sure he, his family, and his agent will discuss what they’re going to do there, and he has the flexibility to do whatever is best for him and his family. But if he joins our club next season, NBA history might be created, and it should be made in a Lakers uniform.”

With their two significant signings this week, the Lakers have made it plain that they intend to keep James as their centerpiece and leader for his record-tying 22nd NBA season this fall and beyond.

Los Angeles’ new coach is JJ Redick, who co-hosted the “Mind the Game” podcast with James this year. Redick is a 15-year NBA veteran who has never coached an adult basketball game, but the Lakers promptly hired the broadcaster after Dan Hurley declined—and Pelinka acknowledged that Redick’s compatibility with James was positive.

The Lakers Have Hired Redick And Drafted Bronny. They Clearly Hope To Lock Down LeBron For Good Next

Bronny, the Lakers’ 55th overall pick, had unimpressive stats in his single year of college at Southern California. Bronny James is talented, but the same athlete with a different name would have had a lower chance of being selected.

Bronny James was thoroughly scouted by Pelinka and the Lakers, and he performed admirably at the pre-draft camp and in a workout at the Lakers’ training complex, which was followed by a meeting with him. Pelinka claimed he never asked Bronny what he thought about the potential strain of playing alongside his father, which even LeBron admitted Bronny was not willing to do.

“We really kept the draft process to Bronny being a Laker, and what we felt like we needed to do to help him become great,” Pelinka informed the crowd. “We didn’t talk a lot about that, just because (we) wanted to respect his dad’s decision as a free agent, so that wasn’t really something that came up.”

Depending on how James decides to proceed, his decision feels increasingly formal. The 20-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion has expressed his desire to play a season with his kid numerous times throughout the years, and the fantasy is now just a signature away from becoming reality.

James might exercise his option for 2024-25 or negotiate a new agreement for considerably more money. He could sign a three-year, $162 million contract that would give him the longest career in NBA history if he played it out.

Either option would likely be acceptable to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, who demonstrated a similar fierce dedication to Kobe Bryant when she pushed for a $48.5 million extension for the final two seasons of his career despite his mounting injury problems.

Bronny is unlikely to help the Lakers win right now, but their option with the 17th overall pick might: Dalton Knecht, the high-scoring Tennessee wing who was named SEC Player of the Year, appears to be one of the draft’s most pro-ready players, and not just because he is already 23 years old.

“In my mind, I thought there’s no way a player that skilled would be available to us (at No. 17),” Pelinka disclosed.

The Lakers Have Hired Redick And Drafted Bronny. They Clearly Hope To Lock Down LeBron For Good Next

Pelinka has repeatedly tried to keep fans’ expectations low for a major player addition to a team that lost to Denver in the first round of the playoffs, instead focusing on incremental improvements to the core around James and Anthony Davis, as well as a potential bench upgrade from Redick’s innovative basketball mind.

“We’ve explored every upgrade we could to make our team better,” Pelinka told the crowd. “Trades in general have become more difficult as a result of the new CBA system, and there is less opportunity to make such major moves than there was under the previous system. But that didn’t stop us from looking into everything and finding methods to improve ourselves.”

SOURCE – (AP)

(VOR News) – The Timberwolves sought players who could play quickly, create their own chances, and boost the second unit’s offense at the NBA draft on Wednesday night.

Wolves head of basketball operations Tim Connelly and his staff considered Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham and Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr.

Few expected the Timberwolves to sign the ex-player. Connelly cited a lack of resources as their reason for not trading any key players to improve their draft position. Connelly cleverly traded Dillingham, the eighth overall pick of the San Antonio Spurs, for a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 protected pick.

Connelly appreciates the significance of those choices, but he thinks the Timberwolves are getting an immediate impact player. Minutes should be available to Dillingham immediately.

When asked if Dillingham will play immediately, Connelly told reporters Wednesday night. “Certainly,” “I believe you should not physically restrain him and behave in a forceful manner.” Despite his limitations, he is capable and will take on a job immediately. If you don’t think someone can perform well right now, you’re not being bold by rating them in the top 10.

Dillingham, 19, is eagerly awaited by the Timberwolves.

He is a guard who can stretch the court, create opportunities, and shoot from beyond the arc. His shooting talents in this draft and shot creation skills, if not the finest, are well-regarded. The Timberwolves needed both skill sets.

“During the offseason, we focused on addressing specific areas, such as enhancing bench scoring and improving players’ ability to create opportunities for themselves and their teammates,” Connelly said. Chris Finch of the Timberwolves emphasizes penetrating the defense, playing faster, and functioning in the key. These traits match Dillingham’s gaming strengths.”

Dillingham’s prior season at Kentucky suggests that. As a substitute, he averaged 15.2 points per game for the Wildcats, ranking second. He did this by shooting 48% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc. In addition to being named All-SEC Second Team and SEC Sixth Man of the Year, he averaged 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds.

“Following the draft, I am confident that I can assist as needed,” Dillingham told NBA TV. “I am confident that I can fulfill any task they assign me without hesitation.”

The one weakness for Dillingham is his defense. Dillingham is 6-foot-1 and 164 pounds, which is small for the NBA and makes him unlikely to defend larger opponents. However, Connelly stated that they will issue a defensive challenge and expect him to accept it.

Dillingham knows the Timberwolves trust him and will sacrifice vital resources for him.

After the draft, Dillingham told reporters, “It serves as a testament to their confidence in me.” The fact that they trust my development potential is vital. Trusting me was all I needed, and it was my highest expectation from any team.”

“The fact that they actually demonstrated it to me is an additional blessing.”

Dillingham’s initiatives can help the Timberwolves now and in the future.

Connelly considers Dillingham a top talent, and Minnesota may see him as Mike Conley’s successor. Conley has two seasons left on his contract, but he turns 37 this fall.

Dillingham will benefit from Conley’s expertise, since the veteran has played in over 1,100 games and faced many circumstances.

Dillingham loves learning from Wolves veterans.

“I’m lucky to learn from many excellent players and veterans. Dillingham said their help is vital for personal growth.

With Dillingham’s selection, the Timberwolves appear to have settled on Anthony Edwards and Dillingham as their future backcourt. There is an exciting opportunity to showcase a dynamic pair of guards who can create scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates as the Wolves look to build on their best season in years.

Dillingham was quoted by NBA TV as saying, “Frankly, I don’t know what to expect in terms of the game.”. However, you are already aware of Anthony Edwards’ performance, so you will be able to predict what he will do in terms of the game. Therefore, I am uncertain what to expect, but we will have to wait until the season begins.

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NBA Draft: Kyle Filipowski Withdraws Unexpectedly From The First Round

(VOR News) – In the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Kyle Filipowski, a highly gifted player who attended Duke University, was generally expected to be selected in the middle of the first round. This was the anticipated outcome prior to the draft commencement.

However, the forward, who was 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 230 pounds, was still available after thirty selections were made on Wednesday night, despite being invited into the Green Room to participate.

Filipowksi elected to participate in the NBA Draft following an exceptional sophomore season, during which he was designated as a First Team All-ACC and a consensus Second Team All-American.

The selection was both reasonable and appropriate in light of his extraordinary performance for Duke, which included being the leading scorer (16.4), rebounder (8.3), shot blocker (1.5), and thief (1.1).

Also, he was Kyle Filipowski’s leading free throw shooter (112).

A player who is a high performer on a Duke team is typically reserved for a spot in the guaranteed money round during the draft.

Conversely, NBA teams prioritized the recruitment of international players or candidates who possess exceptional athleticism or have the potential for long-term involvement on Wednesday night. Cameron Salerno, a CBS Draft expert, has been informed that Kyle Filipowski’s perception will change as the draft progresses into its second day.

In his letter, Salerno stated that he was surprised by the exclusion of Kyle Filipowski from the first round. On CBS Sports’ list of prominent players, Kyle Filipowski’s is widely recognized as one of the most outstanding offensive players in this group.

In the event that a team selects Kyle Filipowski in the second round, they will have the opportunity to acquire one of the most talented players in this class, who stands at a height of seven feet.

Jon Scheyer, the former head coach, concurred with the aforementioned evaluation of his starting center on the team’s social media platform, where he was expressing his final pre-draft perspective.

“He is an exceptionally talented individual.” He resembles a sentinel. Scheyer expressed his enthusiasm for him by stating, “I am ecstatic for him.”

What specific features or characteristics of Kyle Filipowski caused teams to be hesitant or apprehensive during the course of the night? The former five-star recruit did, in fact, endure a number of surgical procedures while attending Durham, despite the fact that it is difficult to ascertain.

Among these were two significant hip operations that were performed after his first year. An additional concern was the perceived lack of polish in his inside move set, which organizations expressed as a source of concern. Additionally, they noted that his perimeter shot was occasionally overused and streaky.

Furthermore, there were concerns about his inability to provide exceptional rim protection and quickness on the defensive end of the court.

Kyle Filipowski has a wingspan of 6 feet 10.5 inches and a height of 6 feet 10 inches.

These measurements were obtained during the combined phase of the draft procedure. Furthermore, his performance was characterized by a lower half of the class in terms of foot speed and soaring ability.

The following was stated by a college head coach who competed against Duke during the current season, as reported by Davis Aldridge of The Athletic:

“In my opinion, he possesses exceptional skills and abilities as a player.” I am most concerned about the position he occupies in that division. The primary challenge he faced this year was competing against opponents who were not necessarily taller than him, but who were capable of matching him in terms of physicality and force.

Lively’s inability to participate this year led to his assignment to the center position. This year, I was particularly impressed by his ability to fire, dribble, and pass the ball as it pertains to offense. He established that. However, I am particularly apprehensive about the defensive aspect. One of those individuals is about to deliver a powerful assault to him; what will be his response?

Filipowski now has the opportunity to forge a new path for himself, irrespective of the circumstances that resulted in his elimination in the first round, as a consequence of his selection in the second round.

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