How would Bronny James fit with the Portland Trail Blazers?

As the eldest son of LeBron James, Bronny James has been in the public basketball eye since middle school. A composite five-star recruit with offers from major college programs like Ohio State, Memphis, Oregon, and USC, Bronny finally ended the drama and announced his commitment to stay in Los Angeles near his father and play for the Trojans.

What kind of player is Bronny? Will he be one-and-done and enter the league as part of the 2024 NBA Draft Class? How would he theoretically fit on the current Blazers roster?

Bronny James scouting report

James is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard from Sierra Canyon High School in California, the same program that produced college stars and NBA players like Ziaire Williams of the Memphis Grizzlies, Brandon Boston Jr. of the LA Clippers, and Kenyon Martin Jr. of the Houston Rockets.

He’s a 247Sports composite five-star recruit, listed as the 21st best prospect in the country and the No. 5 combo guard.

Bronny’s best attribute as a basketball player is his willingness to work. He’s continuously improved and seen his recruiting ranking jump accordingly. He barely cracked the top 50 last summer, but a strong senior season saw him become one of the best prospects in the country and earned him a spot in the McDonald’s All-American Game in March.

On the court, Bronny’s best skill right now is his defense. He’s a fluid and explosive athlete and, coupled with his intensity and willingness, will be one of the best defensive guards in the country next season as a freshman.

Offensively, he’s already a good 3-point shooter with near-perfect mechanics. As he gets older, he should become a 40-percent-or-better shooter from deep.

Bronny’s a prototypical three-and-D player, minus the fact that he’s only 6-3. He’s a much better passer and facilitator than he is a scorer. He doesn’t have the handles or strength to consistently create his own shot at this point. He’s more at home as a secondary ballhandler, spot-up shooter, and transition threat.

How would Bronny fit with the current Trail Blazers roster?

Portland is in need of a backup point guard, unless the team feels Skylar Mays is the answer or it signs one in free agency. If Bronny were on the Blazers roster as currently constructed, he’d slot in well as the first guard off the bench.

Yes, he’s only 6-3, and the Blazers don’t need anymore small guards, but Bronny brings a much different element to the backcourt than Damian Lillard or Anfernee Simons.

Lillard and Simons are both offensive-minded players who can create their own shots and score from all three levels. Bronny is just about the exact opposite. He would be a nice change of pace off the bench as a defensive-minded facilitator who could spot up from three, space the floor, and fill whatever role is required next to either Lillard or Simons.

Who knows where any player on the Blazers’ current roster will be two years from now, or if Bronny will even be part of that 2024 draft class. Dame could be chasing a title with another franchise or Simons could be part of a trade that brings another star to Portland. But if Bronny were part of the team’s current core, he’d be a snug fit and play legitimate minutes as a reserve guard.