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USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6). Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

NBA betting: Teams other than the Lakers with short odds to draft Bronny James

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 4/10/24

Whether you want to hear them or not, everyone in the sports world is going to give their two cents about Bronny James's future in the NBA. That, of course, includes sportsbooks and their odds boards projecting where he will play next season.

Basketball's most polarizing nepo baby has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft after just one year playing at USC, and the speculation has run rampant. What do scouts think of him? What could he bring to a contending team? To a rebuilding team? How connected is his future team to where his dad, LeBron, lands in free agency? Heck, is Bronny even ready to go pro?

Meanwhile, oddsmakers are zeroing in on where he is most likely to land. It's no surprise that L.A. is high on the list. But what about the other 29 teams in the NBA?

Here's a look at teams with short odds to draft Bronny James that aren't the Lakers.

“When I talk to NBA teams there's a clear consensus that as a defender he's already at that caliber of an NBA defender.”

- @ShamsCharania on Bronny James

(Via @RunItBackFDTV ) pic.twitter.com/Es2qd1ilxG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 8, 2024

After the Lakers listed as +350 favorites, DraftKings lists the Philadelphia 76ers at +900 (9-1) to draft the younger James in June. GiveMeSport notes that the Sixers will have a depleted roster following this season, so adding a guard could be a focus for them with their picks in the NBA Draft. Plus, Philly could have the cap space after this season to acquire LeBron and fulfill his dream of playing alongside his son before he retires.

The New York Knicks are also priced at +900 to draft Bronny, which is no surprise since LeBron and the Knicks have been linked in trade and free-agency rumors for over a decade. SI.com named New York as a primary landing place for Bronny back in December, long before the college freshman declared for the 2024 Draft, and speculated if that would draw LeBron to the Big Apple.

Plus, the opportunity to play with both his son and superstar Jalen Brunson likely isn't one LeBron will want to pass up. New York currently will have 11 players under contract next season and not a ton of cap space, though, so if drafting Bronny is predicated on also signing LeBron then some massive roster movement will probably have to happen.

Speaking of teams that aren't surprisingly linked to the James gang, the Cleveland Cavaliers are listed at +1000 to select Bronny in the 2024 NBA Draft. However, this too has more to do with LeBron than his son since he won a championship there in 2016. Plenty of outlets have already weighed in on Paul Pierce's take about Cleveland potentially trading Donovan Mitchell for LeBron if they select Bronny in the NBA Draft.

Would putting a guard with one year of college sports experience on a scrappy team like the Cavs be good for Bronny, though? That answer isn't readily clear.

Where Bronny James lands in the 2024 NBA Draft remains to be seen, and there is going to be a lot of speculation in the months leading up to the first round on June 26.

It will be interesting to see if these three teams remain relative favorites. We urge you to stay tuned.

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