Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
The Los Angeles Lakers are yet to make the decision on their 16 standard contracts ahead of their season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
With the Lakers needing to have 15 standard contracts to start the season, most have floated the name of Dalton Knecht as the player the Los Angeles team is trying to move on from.
However, NBA reporter Sam Quinn of CBS Sports suggests that the Lakers should instead trade Bronny James rather than waiving Knecht.
"If I were the Lakers, I'd be trying to trade Bronny right now to some owner who wants to sell some jerseys," Quinn wrote.
"I'd rather keep Knecht on the books as possible trade salary than cut him and deal with dead money. The Lakers don't really need the James brand like other teams do."
Quinn assessed Bronny's development so far
JJ Redick Bronny James Lakers
JJ Redick Bronny James Lakers
Quinn expanded on Bronny James' development at this point, criticizing his offense and giving a defensive comparison that James is yet to reach.
"Just hasn't reached the point of offensive viability through two years, and the defensive threshold is just so freaking high at that size that if he's never gonna make shots, he basically has to be a Jamal Shead-level pest to even justify a roster spot and he isn't," the reporter explained.
Bronny has played in 5 preseason games for the Lakers, scoring 2.2 points and adding 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 16.4 minutes per game, while shooting 4-of-16 from the field.