So did the Lakers staff and management even brother to clock in today, or did they just let LeBron make the pick?

I mean publicity wise it's not a horrible move.   Their chances of winning a title in 2025 are slim at best.  At least the preseason will make for over-coverage.  They may even get to hang their second in-season tourney banner.   But they won't be relevant when it counts.

More than half of the picks in the second round were traded. I need to dig in more to why that happens to understand it, but on the surface it is such a mess that it makes me not even care.

I’m not sure I’d be comfortable showering with my son. 
 

Probably just me. 

9 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

More than half of the picks in the second round were traded. I need to dig in more to why that happens to understand it, but on the surface it is such a mess that it makes me not even care.

Some of the trades are predetermined beforehand and some of the trades have financial implications that are above my head. For example, this Wolves trade:

1 hour ago, mcpapa said:

I’m not sure I’d be comfortable showering with my son. 
 

Probably just me. 

Ha. Very true.

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Serious question for everyone. On the surface, the idea LeBron gets to play with his son is cool. I can't lie and more power to them. But when Bronny was ultimately drafted, I felt bad for the kid. He's not an idiot and understands the reason he got drafted is because of his dad's puppeteering. Do you believe he was at all embarrassed? He must be relieved it is over.

And we can stop, every media pundit, with the self-righteous preaching on nepotism. We all get how the real world works.

4 minutes ago, bugatti said:

Ha. Very true.

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Serious question for everyone. On the surface, the idea LeBron gets to play with his son is cool. I can't lie and more power to them. But when Bronny was ultimately drafted, I felt bad for the kid. He's not an idiot and understands the reason he got drafted is because of his dad's puppeteering. Do you believe he was at all embarrassed? He must be relieved it is over.

I genuinely feel bad for Bronny. 

LeBron's selfishness has and will continue to unfairly cast doubt and skepticism about Bronny's career. He wouldn't be in the league if LeBron hadn't made the Lakers draft him. He's not NBA ready. If he ever plays any real minutes, he'll likely be exposed and the criticism will be even worse. 

The best thing that can happen for Bronny is for LeBron to retire and stop manipulating the situation. If Bronny is good enough to play in the NBA, let him do it on his own. It's not always about you. 

I guess this has been explained somewhere but why not draft the best player available in the 2nd round and then sign Bronny as a FA?  I don't understand that.  No one else was going to draft Bronny, right?

4 minutes ago, theguru said:

I guess this has been explained somewhere but why not draft the best player available in the 2nd round and then sign Bronny as a FA?  I don't understand that.  No one else was going to draft Bronny, right?

No other team was drafting him. They (team LeBron) wanted Bronny to have his draft moment. It brings more credibility and more leverage for negotiating if a team drafts a player. But yes, they could have signed him to a FA deal. 

On the surface, 2nd round picks are easily dismissed because most do not pan out. But they are still assets and to see a team burn an asset to appease a player maybe going into his last season, that hasn't delivered beyond one season, is vexing and what makes the story what it is.

6 minutes ago, bugatti said:

No other team was drafting him. They (team LeBron) wanted Bronny to have his draft moment. It brings more credibility and more leverage for negotiating if a team drafts a player. But yes, they could have signed him to a FA deal. 

On the surface, 2nd round picks are easily dismissed because most do not pan out. But they are still assets and to see a team burn an asset to appease a player maybe going into his last season, that hasn't delivered beyond one season, is vexing and what makes the story what it is.

To me that is the Lakers making the Lakers worse on purpose.  And another NBA integrity issue just like game 4 of the finals. 

2 hours ago, theguru said:

To me that is the Lakers making the Lakers worse on purpose.  And another NBA integrity issue just like game 4 of the finals. 

The Lakers can do as they see fit. They probably see it as an investment because it shows they are willing to treat their superstars with the utmost deference, which many of these players love. Others? Not so much.

I'm unsure what you are talking about with Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

9 minutes ago, bugatti said:

The Lakers can do as they see fit. They probably see it as an investment because it shows they are willing to treat their superstars with the utmost deference, which many of these players love. Others? Not so much.

I'm unsure what you are talking about with Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

I posted my thoughts on the 17th.  In short, did the Celtics even try?  I mean, it was the finals.  Here it is.

Game 4 was the weirdest part about the series to me.  It comes across as an integrity issue to me.  From the Great Google Machine:

The Dallas Mavericks blew the doors off the Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, earning a 122-84 victory—the third-largest win in the history of the Finals. From the opening tip, Dallas out-hustled, out-rebounded, outran, and flat-out outplayed the Celtics in every way imaginable.

7 hours ago, theguru said:

I guess this has been explained somewhere but why not draft the best player available in the 2nd round and then sign Bronny as a FA?  I don't understand that.  No one else was going to draft Bronny, right?

There were 3 players drafted after Bronny. The Lakers didn't miss out out any player by drafting Bronny. Much ado about nothing. So he's the 55th pick. Who cares besides the James family?

Who are the best players not drafted? Anyone who has a chance at making it?

To compare what Bronny has to live up to based on the Lakers pick in the 2023 draft. They took Jalen Hood-Schifino in the first round at pick #17 he had the following stats in his rookie year.

21 games, 5.2 minutes per game, 22.2% from the field, 13.3% from 3, 60% from the line, 1.6 points per game. 

Their 2nd round pick at #40 was Maxwell Lewis here are his stats from his rookie year.

34 games, 3.0 minutes per game, 19% from the field, 11.1% from 3, 66.7% from the line, .3 points per game.

I think that Bronny can probably put-up stats as good or maybe a little better, but if he puts up these stats because of whose son he is he will be crucified.