Bronny James — Sports Commentary

So the Lakers got LeBron James’ son (why are not surprised?)

The Atlanta Hawks took a kid who not only seems as tall as the Eiffel Tower but can probably tell you its history. And Golden State selected two players unfamiliar to many of us. Maybe that should be, to most of us.

However, in Northern Cal this weekend of the NBA draft, what matters is where Klay Thompson chooses to land. When June comes to an end, so does his contract with the Warriors. Making him a free agent and thus unlike the draftees, he can join the team he wants.

It’s hard to say what Brony James will do for the Lakers, for which his dad is a full-time employee. Or what the 6-foot-10 Frenchman, Zaccharie Risacher, will contribute to the Hawks in his rookie season.

Klay is a four-time All-Star we know. As does Warriors coach Steve Kerr who said it most succinctly: “We desperately need Klay.”

Even with him, the Warriors figure to struggle. The champions have grown old, which is what champions do.

Steph Curry is 36, Draymond Green is 34, and Klay is 34. The court is packed with younger people, stronger people. Even with those three, the Warriors didn’t win the championship the previous two years. And certainly, without each one of the three, they won’t even be in contention this season. This is perhaps the last hurrah.

The NBA, as the NFL, is designed for realignment. High draft picks, and the position of low teams, build new winners. Then almost before we know it, the new winners are old.

It will be a joyful union for LeBron, a father at 38, with his son joining him on the Lakers roster. It’s a story. It’s been a story for months. But the Lakers, as the Warriors, have aged.

First-round or second-round picks are the requirement. Steph and Klay were first-rounders, and Draymond was a second-rounder. Talent.

The Warriors didn’t have a first or early second-round selection this draft, which didn’t seem to matter if you could mentally handle it on TV as every other team improved itself. Finally, the Warriors stepped onto the stage, although not in the stirring way the Lakers did, forming the first family franchise.

The Warriors traded the No. 52 overall pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Lindy Waters III. Then the Warriors reacquired the selection for cash and used it on 7-foot Quintent Post. He’s from the Netherlands.

All is well and good, but they still have to bring back Klay.