If the Lakers don't draft Bronny James, betting odds favor some interesting contenders (including LeBron's old teams)

If Bronny James is drafted into the NBA this summer, chances are it’ll be his dad’s team drafting him … or one of his dad’s old teams.

BetMGM has odds on which team will select James in the June draft, and the Los Angeles Lakers are a heavy favorite at +140. No other team is even remotely close to those odds.

But if a surprise team does take Bronny, the list of next most-likely teams includes some interesting Eastern Conference contenders and both of LeBron James’ former teams. The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied at +1100 each, and the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat are tied at +1600 as the only other teams shorter than 20-1.

Team to draft Bronny James at #BetMGM

+140 Lakers
+1100 Cavs, Knicks, 76ers, Thunder
+1600 Hawks, Clippers, Heat
+2000 Bulls, Bucks
+2200 Grizzlies, Suns
+2500 Spurs, Warriors, Pelicans
+3000 Mavs, Magic
+3500 Wolves, Celtics, Rockets

All other teams +4000 or longer odds pic.twitter.com/p3RJkYTsKa

— John Ewing (@johnewing) May 1, 2024

LeBron has made clear his desire to play with Bronny, so it makes sense the Lakers are projected as the one team most likely to take a gamble on a player who isn’t even a projected first-round pick in FTW’s latest mock draft. The Athletic reported in April, the Lakers are very open to it.

However, with a player option in his contract this summer, LeBron seems to be keeping his options open in the meantime. So, if another team did want to lure him away from LA, drafting Bronny would be a good way to do it.