[Buha] Bronny is a -40 in 16m and 35s this season. His lack of progress is concerning. If LA waived him, I’d be surprised if someone picked him up on an actual contract. Maybe Philly picks him up on a 2-way, but he will not make a 15-man roster. He may be the worst 3rd-string ball handler in the NBA
NBA reporter Jovan Buha strongly criticized the team’s end-of-bench players following Wednesday’s 123-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, even raising questions about James’ long-term NBA future.
The 22-year-old guard has appeared in six games this season, averaging just 1.3 points, 0.0 rebounds, and 0.0 assists in 2.8 minutes per game.
“Bronny is a minus-40 in 16 minutes and 35 seconds this season,” Buha said on his Buha’s Block podcast. “Think about that. That’s not even a quarter and a half of basketball. The Lakers have been outscored by 40 in his 16 and a half minutes.”
Bronny played four minutes against Milwaukee, finishing with four points, no rebounds, and no assists. He missed his only field-goal attempt but made all four free throws, recording a minus-13.
The reporter singled out James and Hardy for their inability to organize the offense and handle defensive pressure, questioning whether the Lakers can continue relying on them.
“When you look at Bronny and his lack of progress this year, it is concerning,” Buha noted.
“If LA waived him, I’d be surprised if someone picked him up on an actual contract,” Buha said.
“Maybe someone picks him up on a two-way. Maybe Philly picks him up on a two-way, or somewhere picks him up on a two-way,” he added. “I don’t think he ends up on a 15-man roster.”
According to Buha, Los Angeles needs another dependable ball-handler capable of running the offense, breaking full-court pressure, and protecting leads when its stars are resting.
“They might have the worst third-string ball handler in the NBA,” Buha said.
“They just need, like, a placeholder floor general to just run the show for a bit and break a press, get the guys set up, dribble the clock out, run the offense. That’s what the Lakers need, and that’s not Hardy, and that’s not Bronny.”
The reporter then floated a possible roster change involving veteran NBA champion Bruce Brown.
“Bruce Brown, I’d be cool with Bruce Brown,” Buha said of the 30-year-old guard. “At this point, why not waive Bronny and just have Bruce Brown on the team?”
“Bronny was just in the rotation at the end of last season, and he’s looked like a shell of himself this season,” Buha said, shifting his focus back to the team’s current reserves.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but those guys have both played better previously. And for whatever reason, they’ve been unable to meet the moment so far in a pretty concerning way.”