NBA executive insists teams WILL draft Bronny James if he opts to end his college career early despite underwhelming freshman year - and there's one big reason why

An unnamed NBA executive has predicted that teams will draft Bronny James if he declares for the draft after his freshman year - with the teenager seen as a potential recruiting chip for one of the league's best players.

After suffering a cardiac arrest over the summer and missing the first eight games of his USC career, Bronny had a modest debut season in which he averaged 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

And while most players with those stats would be looking towards their sophomore seasons, many expected Bronny - the son of Lakers star LeBron James - to be a one-and-done prospect as a five-star recruit.

It remains to be seen whether or not Bronny will jump to the NBA now, but if he does, the NBA exec sees him getting drafted because of his family lineage.

'I don't know that he's dead set on coming out,' the executive told ESPN. 'But I know some teams would consider drafting him on the hope they can sign LeBron, as well. A team would have to have room or have assets the Lakers would want, and I don't see that as likely, but I think there will be teams that will take that approach. 

Drafting Bronny James could be viewed as a way to recruit his father, LeBron James as well

Bronny had a modest freshman season at USC as the Trojans struggled in the Pac 12

'I think everyone is preparing for him to go in the draft, and I'm dead serious - I think a lot of teams will take the stance that they'll draft him if there's a 1% chance LeBron will join them. So, I'll be surprised if he doesn't enter.'

LeBron has previously expressed his wish to play with his eldest son before retiring from the NBA, but softened that stance in May as he told ESPN that Bronny would 'take his own journey.'

Regardless, the unnamed exec recommended that Bronny return to school for a second year, after his debut season was affected by his health issues and USC's surprisingly poor play (they ended the season at 15-18 on Thursday after losing to Arizona in the Pac 12 tournament.)

A different NBA exec also shared that he did not see Bronny as an NBA-ready player right now.

NBA executives have recommended that Bronny return for a second season at USC

'You've seen some positive flashes, but he's another guy on the team, and if we were doing this objectively, I think he'd be someone we'd say we'd expect a pretty good sophomore year from,' they said.

'Bronny, to me, is going to look good around other good players, because he's not an alpha skill set, he's very much a complementary player. This wasn't just him, this was true of a bunch of guys: He just wasn't set up to succeed all that much this year.'

He mostly came off the bench as he averaged 19.3 minutes per game, though he did display some impressive defense for the Trojans as a freshman.

With or without Bronny, the NBA Draft will take place on June 26 and 27 this year.