LeBron James Could Lose $50 Million In Salary If He And Bronny Team Up On The Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns could lure LeBron James to Phoenix by drafting his son Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft. While reports suggest LeBron won't try to switch teams to play alongside his son, a new report says that the Suns are looking to select Bronny with their first-round draft pick to try and sway LeBron to follow him to Phoenix.

"The Suns are hoping to pursue LeBron James this offseason, which is why Bronny James is a very serious draft option at No. 22 overall to potentially lure him in. Phoenix appears to believe they can convince LeBron to join forces with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal to create a historic superteam. LeBron would be sacrificing almost $50 million next season if he were to legitimately consider joining the Suns on a veteran’s minimum contract."

The only way LeBron could join the Suns is if he signed for a veteran minimum, as the over-the-cap Suns have no money to offer and won't have their tax mid-level exception due to being above the second apron. But if there's any team that could make it worthwhile for LeBron, it's Phoenix with a star trio already in place.

James is expected to decline his player option and test free agency. The Lakers can offer him the most money due to his Bird rights, but cap space teams like the Philadelphia 76ers will make a push for the superstar wing. The Suns don't have the space, but they provide an attractive destination where James could team up with two more superstars and Bradley Beal. 

LeBron James Opens Up On The Hate Bronny Has Dealt With

There's no running around it. If Bronny James is drafted in the first round, it's because of his last name and not because of his ability. A second-round pick on James is justifiable due to his low-floor, high-ceiling archetype but he hasn't had the production to warrant a first-round selection.

Bronny's poor college stats, where he averaged 4.8, points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 36.6% from the field as a freshman in USC, have soured many casual fans on his draft stock. As a result, James has been subjected to a lot of social media hate, something LeBron said he wouldn't have been able to handle at the same age.

"For Bronny to have that mindset of, 'At this point of time in my life and in my game I know where I stand but I know how I affect the game'. He's just a winning player and I just love his mindset. Some of his answers to questions given to him, I was in awe of because we've never talked about it before. He's definitely not his dad and I'm not him. I wouldn't be able to handle the scrutiny and all the things that he got going on at his age, and with social media."

The Suns are among the teams Bronny is being heavily considered by, but the Lakers are also in the mix. If they don't use their No. 17 pick on Bronny, the Suns have multiple chances in the Draft to possibly snake the young guard away from the Lakers to see if LeBron would possibly end his association with the team to become the final piece for the Suns.