Bronny James should NOT head to the NBA this year and instead needs another year in college before he is ready, ex-NBA star Byron Scott claims - after LeBron's son declared for Draft

With Bronny James now entering the transfer portal and declaring for the NBA Draft, a number of former league executives and coaches have leant their thoughts on the future for the son of LeBron James.

Bronny announced that he'd be testing the draft waters while retaining his college eligibility - and will also look for a new college to play for if he isn't picked by a team in the league this summer.

One of the people watching on is former NBA star and coach Byron Scott, who said that the decision to enter the draft process wasn't an eye-opening one.

'Not surprised, not shocked,' Scott told TMZ. 'I think Bronny and, obviously, his dad and Klutch Sports, they've probably been thinking about this for a while and how to kind of go about it.'

'So him entering his name in the draft and also in the portal -- I think he's just weighing his options to see where he can probably get drafted, and then if he doesn't like that and likes a situation where he can go play college basketball for another year, then I think it's the best of both worlds. I think he's in a great position.'

Bronny James has hit the transfer portal and announced his intentions for the NBA Draft

But ex-NBA coach Byron Scott believes that Bronny could benefit from another year in college

Bronny, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, will now go through the league draft process

Whether or not he will be selected remains to be seen, but Bronny's stat lines don't exactly scream 'ready for the NBA' just yet. Last season, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes of action per game.

He could be better off with another season in college - something that Scott mentioned to TMZ. 

'You know what, to be honest with you, I think one more year of college wouldn't hurt him,' Scott believes. 

'I think he has some great skills, there's no doubt about that -- he knows how to play the game, he's got a great basketball IQ. 

'But playing one more year and being almost kind of featured, I think would really really solidify him in the next NBA Draft.' 

It's unclear if Bronny will go back to USC if he does remain in college, with the guard's name now in the transfer portal after coach Andy Enfield left for SMU. 

Replacing Enfield is former Arkansas coach Eric Musselman - as the Trojans prepare to jump to the Big Ten Conference next season.

Schools that might be interested in Bronny include two who were finalists for the star out of high school: Ohio State and Oregon.