Stephen A. Smith suggests LeBron James may leave the Lakers if they don’t draft Bronny James and hire JJ Redick as head coach.

Stephen A. Smith, on his show ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show,’ discussed a scenario that could significantly impact the future of LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith claimed that LeBron James might consider leaving the Lakers if certain conditions are not met, specifically regarding the drafting of his son, Bronny James, and the hiring of JJ Redick as the new head coach.

“Let me tell you what else I’ve been hearing. LeBron James is trying to get the Los Angeles Lakers to draft Bronny James with the second-round pick. He’d also like for JJ Redick to be his next head coach. I’m just telling you what I’ve heard.”

“Now, that doesn’t mean the Lakers want JJ Redick, it doesn’t mean they don’t… He’s one of many, they haven’t made a finite decision about anybody yet, but LeBron has. That’s the guy he wants, which would kind of explain why they’re doing a basketball podcast together, I’m just guessing on that point, but it makes sense.”

Smith asserted that LeBron James is eligible to sign an extension and could either stay with the Lakers or choose to go elsewhere. Reports suggest that LeBron is looking for a three-year contract extension. However, Smith revealed additional demands that LeBron allegedly has for the Lakers.

He emphasized that while these are LeBron’s preferences, it does not necessarily mean that the Lakers have made any concrete decisions regarding these matters. The Lakers are still in the process of evaluating potential candidates and have not finalized their plans for the draft or the head coaching position.

Smith further speculated on the potential reasons behind LeBron’s preferences, noting that the choice of JJ Redick might be influenced by their collaboration on a basketball podcast. This connection could explain LeBron’s interest in having Redick as the head coach, although Smith admitted this was speculative on his part.

In addition to the Lakers’ situation, Smith mentioned the possibility of other teams, like the Dallas Mavericks, drafting Bronny James to lure LeBron away from Los Angeles. This strategic move could be aimed at leveraging the father-son duo to boost the team’s performance and marketability.

LeBron’s desire to play alongside his son Bronny has been well-documented, and the idea of JJ Redick as head coach adds another layer to the potential shake-up within the Lakers organization. As the Lakers navigate these demands and evaluate their options, the future of LeBron James with the team remains uncertain.

Whether the Lakers will meet LeBron’s conditions or risk losing him to another franchise is a critical question that could shape the upcoming NBA season.