Home

he PGA Tour season is beginning to pick up steam, and with the 2025 Players Championship fast approaching, the key question everyone’s asking is the same across the golf world: Who are you picking to win at TPC Sawgrass? With a tremendous field featuring most of the best golfers in the world in attendance, we should be in for an epic ride beginning with Thursday’s first round.

While The Players does not hold a “major championship” designation, but it’s nevertheless a huge event on the annual golf calendar as the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament. The $25 million purse and $4.5 million winner’s share is more than will be payed out at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open or Open Championship this year.

Scottie Scheffler, the defending Players champion, enters with plenty of momentum from another dynamite 2024, though his start to the 2025 season has been less than ideal. Collin Morikawa has been playing incredible golf of late, but he fell back Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to relinquish a lead he held for the better part of two rounds. Tiger Woods will not be in attendance at TPC Sawgrass, though Rory McIlroy will be looking to put his best foot forward with one month to go until he competes for the elusive green jacket at Augusta National Golf Club.

So, what is going to happen this week in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida? Let’s take a look at a full set of predictions and picks from our CBS Sports experts.

You can also check out a full slate of Players Championship odds to help set your expectations of the field, Players Championship tee times and pairings for Round 1 on Thursday and the entire Players Championship TV schedule for the week so you know exactly when and where to watch all 72 holes.

2025 Players Championship expert picks, predictions
Patrick McDonald, golf writer

Winner — Collin Morikawa (16-1): The Arnold Palmer Invitational loss may still sting, but Morikawa will get right back onto the horse and ride into the winner’s circle after traveling a few hours North. The two-time major champion was sensational from tee to green at Bay Hill, and that will carry over to TPC Sawgrass where his blend of accurate driving and pinpoint iron play will allow him to rise to the top of the leaderboard. His Players Championship history is mixed, but he has a number of quality rounds under his belt. Given the way he is trending, he should be able to string four together this week.

Sleeper — Justin Rose (150-1): The former world No. 1 can still keep up with the big boys on golf courses that require more than just physical skill. One of the best course managers in the game, Rose will rise to the challenge that is TPC Sawgrass like he has many times in the past. The Englishman has two top-10 finishes and two missed cuts since the tournament moved to March drawing parallels to his current season where he has two top 10s (Pebble Beach and Bay Hill) and two missed cuts (both at Torrey Pines).

Top 10 lock — Scottie Scheffler: What’s throwing me off the scent of Scheffler to take home the title is the level of difficulty involved in winning any golf tournament three years in a row, let alone the Players Championship where Scheffler became the first ever to successfully defend with his title last season. The world No. 1 figured out the big stick at Bay Hill where he led the field from off the tee and the rest of his game is now beginning to follow suit. His poor putting at Arnie’s Place may introduce some questions, but his tee-to-green game is good enough to finish inside the top 10 without the aid of a cooperative flat stick.

Star who definitely won’t win — Justin Thomas: There have not been many to win The Players twice, and Thomas isn’t going to add his name to that list (at least not this year). While the tee-to-green presence is strong, there are still some holes in his game — big misses off the tee, big numbers on the scorecard and short misses on the greens — especially when the test ramps up. Since his 2022 PGA Championship victory, Thomas has one top 10 (2024 PGA), six missed cuts and no other finishes inside the top 30 in the majors or The Players.

Surprise prediction — Jordan Spieth contends: His Players form stinks, but something is clicking at the moment. Spieth continues to drive the ball effectively, and while his iron play can come and go, he is making putts again — something he was not doing from 2022-24. A top-10 finish at the WM Phoenix Open was not all too surprising given his history at TPC Scottsdale, but another such result at PGA National in his debut appearance was more than welcomed.

Lowest round: 64 (-8)
Winning score: 268 (-20)
Winner’s Sunday score: 68 (-4)

2025 Players Championship predictions, picks, favorites: One of these nine golfers will win at TPC Sawgrass
Patrick McDonald
2025 Players Championship predictions, picks, favorites: One of these nine golfers will win at TPC Sawgrass
Josh Mullenix, Early Wedge producer

Winner — Scottie Scheffler (5-1): His start to 2025 has been a little turbulent by his standards, but he still has three top 11 finishes in four starts. He’s going to make someone else stare him down and win the tournament, something only Stephan Jaeger has done the last two years. TPC Sawgrass will make the winner hit three to five well executed golf shots on Sunday down the stretch, and no one executes better than the World No. 1.

Sleeper — Daniel Berger (55-1): He’s done nothing but bank top 25 finishes since the RSM Classic in November. After a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open where the putter let him down, he’s gaining across the bag and just finished T15 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational despite opening with a 78 on Thursday. It’s his first Players Championship in three years, but he finished among the top 15 in both 2021 and 2022. One thing is for sure about Berger: He has the confidence to win this week and his game suggests the same.

Top 10 lock — Collin Moriakwa: There’s a clear closing problem with Morikawa — look no further than Bay Hill last Sunday. But that’s basically his only problem at this juncture. He leads the PGA Tour this season in strokes gained tee to green and is a measly sixth in approach. As one of the best iron players in the world with the driving accuracy to hit from the fairway all week long, it’s hard to see him not banking a quality finish. I just highly doubt he’ll figure out how to win again with the pressure of TPC Sawgrass’ closing stretch staring him in the face.

Star who definitely won’t win — Patrick Cantlay: The golf world is perpetually underwhelmed by Cantlay even though last week’s T31 was just his second finish outside of the top 25 since last year’s Memorial Tournament. However, he also finished outside the top 30 at Pebble Beach. He’s battling a different thing every week; lost strokes with the putter and off the tee at the Arnold Palmer, the short game was bad at the Genesis and the putter disappeared at Pebble Beach. Before that he started the year with some shaky iron play. More than anything, Cantlay isn’t going to win this week because Cantlay doesn’t win anywhere. We are now 933 days removed from his last victory at the 2022 BMW Championship.

Surprise prediction — Two of the six betting favorites will miss the cut: The volatility of success at The Players is one of the reasons this tournament is so fun. Every year, past champions and big names find the water one too many times and miss the cut. Two of Scheffler, Morikawa, Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg and Tommy Fleetwood will not even play the weekend. Maybe McIlroy brings a wayward driver like he did last year. Thomas’s putter is nonexistent. Åberg’s short game and approach is a little sloppy. TPC Sawgrass is primed to turn little imperfections into a weekend off, even for the best in the field.

Lowest round: 64 (-8)
Winning score: 272 (-16)
Winner’s Sunday score: 70 (-2)

Adam Silverstein, senior director of editorial

Winner — Collin Morikawa (16-1): Scheffler is the deserving favorite at TPC Sawgrass given his dominance of the course, but Morikawa is the value play coming off his second-place finish (that should have been a win) at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week. His precision and accuracy will do him well in Ponte Vedra Beach, and simply put, he’s a trustworthy start who is unlikely to go wayward like so many others might. Scheffler winning three straight is certainly possible given his immense skill, but he still needs to put it all together in 2025.

Sleeper — Shane Lowry (35-1): Granted, I might stretching the definition of “sleeper” here, but Lowry is basically a top-10 lock at TPC Sawgrass. At some point, he’s going to break through to hoist the trophy and $4.5 million check. He’s finished among the top 11 in each of his last two starts and seems to be continuing to surge off a successful 2024. I’d rather back him at these odds than someone twice as long who is far less likely to win.

Top 10 lock — Scottie Scheffler: Whether Morikawa struggles to close or he puts his game together at the right time, it’s hard to imagine Scheffler not being among the top five once 72 holes are played at TPC Sawgrass. Being given twice as many spots in which to back a guy who has already defended his title at The Players feels generous, but I’ll take it.

Star who definitely won’t win — Xander Schauffele: The game is just not there, and at 18-1, it would be foolhardy to back him (though that is twice as much value as he’ll get at majors later this year). Schauffele finished T30 at The Sentry and T40 last week after barely making the Bay Hill cut on the number. Going from that to the winner’s circle coming out of this strong of a field is highly unlikely.

Surprise prediction — Rickie Fowler contends on Sunday: There is nothing from his season thus far that points to Fowler making a run at TPC Sawgrass, though he does have two finishes near the top 10 this year, and obviously he’s won at this course before. He’s at 90-1 on the oddsboard and coming off a week where he did not play after not receiving an expected exemption into the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Talk about motivation.

Lowest round: 64 (-8)
Winning score: 274 (-14)
Winner’s Sunday score: 69 (-3)

Who will win The Players Championship, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Visit SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard and best bets, all from the model that’s nailed 13 golf majors and is up nearly $9,000 since June 2020.

A total of 144 players will step foot onto the course at TPC Sawgrass this week with hopes of raising one of the biggest trophies of their respective careers. For some, the 2025 Players Championship will be as good as it gets, but for others, it could prove to be a stepping stone to bigger and better tournaments … or perhaps another entry into a hall-of-fame résumé.

While there have been some surprises in recent Players Championships — veterans like Lee Westwood and Jim Furyk contending or relative unknown Anirban Lahiri nearly winning in 2022 — the recent winners have been a who’s who in the game of golf.

Dating back to Tiger Woods’ last Players title in 2013, only two non-major winners (at the time of their title or down the road) have entered the winner’s circle at the PGA Tour’s flagship event. Those players are Rickie Fowler and Si Woo Kim.

As for the rest? Well, it’s been who you would expect. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler became the first player to successfully defend his title at TPC Sawgrass with his miraculous come-from-behind victory last season. A win this week to complete a rare three-peat would give him the most Players crowns alongside Jack Nicklaus (three).

2025 Players Championship picks, odds: Expert predictions, favorites to win in betting field at TPC Sawgrass
Patrick McDonald
2025 Players Championship picks, odds: Expert predictions, favorites to win in betting field at TPC Sawgrass
Cameron Smith, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy round out the names on the Players trophy since the tournament transitioned from May to March. While the switch in the time of year switched up certain aspects of the golf course, it did not alter the quality of winner with Webb Simpson, Jason Day and Martin Kaymer all coming through at this tournament as well.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the nine golfers — only 6% of the field — with the best chance to win this year’s edition of The Players. Be sure to check out a PGA Championship TV schedule and coverage guide so you know exactly when and where to watch all 72 holes this week.

2025 Players Championship predictions, favorites
Odds via SportsLine consensus

1
player headshot
Scottie Scheffler
The only trend going against Scheffler is that it is immensely hard to win the same tournament three years in a row, let alone The Players. Early season struggles off the tee were alleviated last week at Bay Hill as he led the field off the tee while ranking inside the top five in greens in regulation and scrambling. The putter was ineffectiv, but it has largely been serviceable since this time last year. He’s the rightful favorite and still the clear-cut world No. 1, but there’s no way he can pass Tiger Woods and match Nicklaus’ tournament total in a three-year span … right?! It only sounds crazy until it happens. Odds: 4-1
2
player headshot
Collin Morikawa
Nine. That’s how many top-five finishes Morikawa has registered since his last victory with last week’s runner-up result adding to the running total. Some say he lost the ability to close; I say he’s winning this week. Everything is clicking in his game at the moment — his iron play has returned to peak Morikawa, and his short-game improvements from last year have sustained. Morikawa is playing too well to go winless for this long, and he’s a great fit at Sawgrass. It’s as simple as that. Odds: 12-1
3
player headshot
Rory McIlroy
It appeared McIlroy was going to make his way into The Players much more sure of himself compared to last season. Then he decided to switch his driver and fairway woods for the first three rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. With his old clubs back in the bag again — which helped him lead the fields in driving at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach — McIlroy should bounce back into contention. Amid a stretch of carding big numbers in bunches, McIlroy shared the first-round lead last year. This year, he is much steadier as he navigated Bay Hill without a single double bogey. It may not seem like much, but that is huge for a player who has been preaching patience all year. Odds: 10-1
4
player headshot
Ludvig Aberg
It’s easy to forget Åberg is seeing some of these golf courses for only the second time of his career this season. A top-10 finisher in his debut last year, the Swedish super computer showed his software can effectively navigate the trickery of TPC Sawgrass. He comes in with plenty of confidence off winning Woods’ tournament at Torrey Pines and has a veteran caddie, Joe Skovron (who won this tournament with Fowler) on the bag alongside him. Odds: 18-1
5
player headshot
Xander Schauffele
He was the man in front for most of last year’s tournament before a couple late bogeys upended his chances. Schauffele comes into this year’s tournament in a much different position as he returned from injury last week at Bay Hill and may still be getting rid of some rust. The two-time major champion struck the ball well at Arnie’s Place only for his short game to let him down. It may still be too early, but Schauffele’s name doesn’t drift into the 20s on the oddsboard too often these days. Odds: 22-1
6
player headshot
Hideki Matsuyama
He isn’t technically a former champion, but some still claim the 2020 Players belonged to Matsuyama. He has done everything but enter the winner’s circle at TPC Sawgrass as the man from Japan has seven top-25 finishes in nine tournament appearances. Those results include a pair of quality outings the last two years when Matsuyama finished T6 and solo fifth, respectively. The ball striking has been mixed the last month, but his short game remains world class. Odds: 25-1
7
player headshot
Russell Henley
When you’re hot, you’re hot. Scheffler won in back-to-back weeks last season, so why can’t Henley? The Arnold Palmer Invitational winner will be brimming with confidence when he steps foot onto the property after out dueling two-time major champion Morikawa at Bay Hill. Before missing the cut last season, Henley had grabbed back-to-back top 20s at this tournament. Odds: 30-1
8
player headshot
Sepp Straka
We have to start putting some respect on Straka’s name. Since the beginning of the year, Straka ranks fifth — yes, fifth — in total strokes gained thanks to a simple two-pronged approach of hitting fairways and greens in bunches. The big Austrian has a solid history at TPC Sawgrass, including a pair of top 20s in his last three trips. He rolled the rock beautifully last week at Bay Hill en route to a T5 — his sixth top-15 finish this year. Odds: 50-1
9
player headshot
Justin Rose
The last spot on this list could have gone to a few guys — Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley and Nick Taylor among them — but it is given to Rose. The Englishman can still keep up with the big names on golf courses that require thinking, and TPC Sawgrass certainly fits that criteria. Rose arrives off a top-10 finish at Bay Hill and a contention run last month at Pebble Beach. He is only two years removed from finishing T6 in this tournament. Odds: 150-1
Who will win The Players Championship, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Visit SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard and best bets, all from the model that’s nailed 13 golf majors and is up nearly $9,000 since June 2020.

The 2025 Players Championship is the biggest tournament on the PGA Tour own schedule, and as such, it doles out the biggest purse. With a total of $25 million up for grabs this week at TPC Sawgrass, players will vie for a slice of the largest prize fund of the season with the biggest piece of the pie totaling $4.5 million for the second straight year.

Two-time reigning champion Scottie Scheffler has earned $8.5 million from this tournament alone the last two seasons. With a third straight victory, he can up that number to $13 million — a hair more than the career earnings of Joel Dahmen. Scheffler, of course, is not the only golfers in contention this week, though he does enter as the clear favorites at 9/2. This despite three-peats in golf being historically unlikely, especially given this would come out of a 144-man field at such a prestigious event.

Although The Players Championship is neither a major championship nor one of the PGA Tour’s “signature event,” its purse does have similarities to the latter. Each of the top-40 players at the week’s end will clear six figures in earnings with those inside the top 13 cashing at least $500,000 each. Golfers who finish inside the top five will each see seven figures hit their respective bank accounts.

Here are the winners from the biggest-money events on the PGA Tour so far throughout the 2025 season.

The Sentry: Hideki Matsuyama ($3.6 million)
Pebble Beach Pro Am: Rory McIlroy ($3.6 million)
Genesis Invitational: Ludvig Åberg ($4 million)
Arnold Palmer Invitational: Russell Henley ($4 million)
Let’s take a look at the payout list for the 2025 Players Championship broken down through the top 65 players who make the cut and play the weekend at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

2025 Players Championship prize money, purse
Total purse: $25 million

1st: $4,500,000
2nd: $2,725,000
3rd: $1,725,000
4th: $1,225,000
5th: $1,025,000
6th: $906,250
7th: $843,750
8th: $781,250
9th: $731,250
10th: $681,250
11th: $631,250
12th: $581,250
13th: $531,250
14th: $481,250
15th: $456,250
16th: $431,250
17th: $406,250
18th: $381,250
19th: $356,250
20th: $331,250
21st: $306,250
22nd: $281,250
23rd: $261,250
24th: $241,250
25th: $221,250
26th: $201,250
27th: $193,750
28th: $186,250
29th: $178,750
30th: $171,250
31st: $163,750
32nd: $156,250
33rd: $148,750
34th: $142,500
35th: $136,250
36th: $130,000
37th: $123,750
38th: $118,750
39th: $113,750
40th: $108,750
41st: $103,750
42nd: $98,750
43rd: $93,750
44th: $88,750
45th: $83,750
46th: $78,750
47th: $73,750
48th: $69,750
49th: $66,250
50th: $64,250
51st: $62,750

“The Chicago Bulls making a push for LeBron James would signal their intent to reclaim relevance and make a legitimate run in the East,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Thursday.

“Zach LaVine, a two-time All-Star with elite scoring ability (22.1 points per game), gives the Lakers an offensive centerpiece to pair with Anthony Davis. Matas Buzelis, a highly touted rookie with size, skill, and immense upside, could be a cornerstone for Los Angeles’ long-term future.”

“For Chicago, the deal would instantly revitalize the franchise. LeBron, even at 40, brings unmatched basketball IQ, leadership, and a chance to make noise in the playoffs as the greatest talent for the franchise since Michael Jordan.”

“Adding Bronny (James) to the mix also gives the Bulls a youthful storyline, complementing veterans like Nikola Vucevic.”

The Bulls may be struggling to make noise in the Eastern Conference, but LaVine is enjoying one of the most efficient seasons of his career, averaging 21.7 points on 50.1% shooting from the field and 42.8% shooting from beyond the arc.

As a frightening 6-foot-5 guard with zero noticeable offensive limitations, LaVine would provide the Lakers with a frightening three-level scorer who desperately wants to achieve team success.

However, James, Los Angeles’ do-it-all forward who’s nearly averaging a triple-double, still has plenty of juice left in the tank and would love to finish his career with the Lakers.

In an ideal world, the Lakers would find a way to acquire a versatile offensive weapon in LaVine while retaining the heart and soul of their struggling ball club.

Schröder is enjoying a fast start to the season in Brooklyn. Through 23 games, he’s averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point range. He joins a Warriors team that has lost seven of nine games after a hot 12-3 start to the season.

The trade is expected to be finalized on Sunday, Dec. 15, which is when a large group of NBA players becomes trade-eligible. Ahead of the calls that will make the deal official, here is everything to know about the trade.

SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule

Dennis Schroder trade details
Warriors receive

Dennis Schröder
Second-round pick
Nets receive:

De’Anthony Melton
Reece Beekman
Three second-round picks
NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein reported that Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a deal sending Schröder to the Bay in exchange for Melton. The reports indicate that the Warriors will not send out any first-round draft capital.

Fischer added that Golden State will include undrafted rookie Reece Beekman, who is currently on a two-way contract.

ESPN’s Shams Charania outlined the framework, reporting that Golden State will receive one second-round pick while sending three second-round picks to Brooklyn in the deal.

Melton is on an expiring contract and his salary made for a one-for-one match for Schröder’s. Because he will enter free agency in late June, Melton could theoretically rejoin Golden State as a free agent next year.

TRADE GRADES: Did Warriors or Nets win the Dennis Schroder deal?

Dennis Schroder contract details
Schröder is in a contract year and will enter free agency following the 2024-25 season. He is earning just over $13 million this season.

And now, another potential reunion could happen. Charania reported that the Detroit Pistons have waived former Sixers center Paul Reed.

Reed was a fan favorite during his time with the Sixers. He played so well as Joel Embiid’s backup that he earned the nickname “Bball Paul.”

The Sixers waived him during the offseason not because they were dissatisfied with his performance but because they wanted to open up the cap room necessary to add players like Paul George and Caleb Martin.

The Sixers can legally reunite with Reed
Anyone with basic knowledge of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement may think that Reed can’t return to the Sixers for a year because they waived him.

However, that rule only applies to players who are traded. That doesn’t apply to what the Sixers did with Reed, so that means they can bring him back when he clears waivers.

Reed did not have the best performance with the Pistons. In 12 games, he averaged 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.8 steals while shooting nearly 54% from the field. Even so, it’d be hard to see why he wouldn’t have much of a market if and when he becomes a free agent.

Because of his familiarity with the Sixers, he makes sense as a potential target. With Joel Embiid out until further notice, Reed would be a valuable placeholder until he returns.

The one qualm is that he may not want to compete with Andre Drummond for backup center minutes. However, if the Sixers were to part ways with Drummond again before the trade deadline, Reed would have the opportunity to get his old job back in Philadelphia.

Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported that McCain will be out indefinitely once he gets surgery on his torn meniscus.

Making matters worse is that this is just the latest of the many nagging injuries that have plagued the Sixers’ season. Fans, of course, were dismayed by the latest news.

“Absolutely unbelievable,” one fan wrote, while another wrote, “Devastating news. Just horrible.”

Another posted a GIF of Kirsten Bell in The Good Place, saying, “This is the bad place!” to emphasize where the Sixers are this season.

Even non-Sixers fans completely sympathize with what’s happened to them this season following the McCain news.

“This is one of the most unlucky years for a team we’ve seen in the sport,” one non-Sixers fan wrote.

McCain has endeared himself to fans this year because of his historically impressive production and charming personality.

All hope is not lost with McCain
Meniscus tears aren’t always the automatic season-ending injury that an ACL tear is. Sometimes they are, but other times, it isn’t for too long. They vary depending on the severity and the recovery time.

It might be a little obnoxious to look at the glass half-full here, but since the season is still pretty young, there’s a puncher’s chance that McCain could return before the season’s end.

Again, it will depend on how bad the tear was. Also, as long as Embiid’s injury isn’t too serious, the Sixers can stabilize without McCain.

It’s just such a shame that such a bright light to an awful season may have potentially seen his season end prematurely.

With McCain’s injury, the Sixers have now had to navigate serious injuries to their star rookie and each member of the All-Star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. Making matters worse is that Embiid also suffered an injury in the same game as McCain.

What’s next for McCain? Here is what is known about his injury and what it means for him and the 76ers moving forward.

SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule

What is Jared McCain’s injury?
McCain has a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.

The 76ers announced the injury on Dec. 14. McCain is said to have reported knee soreness following the team’s loss to the Pacers. The injury required surgery.

McCain played 29 minutes against the Pacers, finishing with five points on 2-for-6 shooting.

MORE: What SN’s Steph Noh learned going through two months of Kevin Durant’s tweets

How long will Jared McCain be out?
McCain is out indefinitely, the 76ers announced on Dec. 14.

The amount of time McCain misses will depend on the type of surgery he underwent. McCain either underwent meniscal repair or a partial meniscectomy. On his YouTube channel, McCain suggested that he “would be out for the whole year,” suggesting the surgery was season-ending but the organization has yet to confirm that news.

Full clip👇 pic.twitter.com/idsob7Zw6M

— Philly Sixers Galaxy (@sixers_galaxy) December 22, 2024
As outlined by medical expert Dr. Michael S. George of the KSF Orthopedic Center in Houston, recovery time from a meniscus repair is four to six months. After a partial meniscectomy, the patient can walk without crutches immediately and return to the court in four to six weeks.

“It seems unlikely that LeBron James would waive his no-trade clause, but if he does, any trade the Los Angeles Lakers make would likely have to include Bronny James as well,” Fansided’s Luke Norris wrote Friday.

“The upside here is that the Warriors were interested in bringing Bronny to San Francisco anyway but opted not to so LeBron could realize his dream of playing alongside his son.”

“As you can see above, we’ve got the Warriors shipping Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Lindy Waters, and De’Anthony Melton to the Lakers to acquire the James gang. There would likely need to be a first-round draft pick in there as well.”

“Now, it might not seem as if the Dubs are giving up all that much. But one has to remember that while LeBron is still playing at an extremely high level, he’s also about to turn 40 on December 30.”

“So, it’s somewhat difficult to calculate exactly what his trade value might be at this point.”

“The Warriors have long dreamt about pairing James alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and this could be enough to get that done. Wiggins has returned to form this season, and Kuminga has had a solid season thus far as well.”

“Melton is out for the year with an ACL injury but his expiring $12.8 million contract could still be attractive to the Lakers as long as draft compensation is included. And LA also comes out ahead, as Waters is a better bench option than Bronny at this point.”

While James has proven to be an impactful superstar with the Lakers at age 39, he isn’t on his way to winning a championship in Year 22.

James is pulling his weight early on, averaging 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game, but the Lakers’ consistency on both ends of the floor has been non-existent.

James’ son, Bronny, hasn’t enjoyed much success in the NBA, but he’s currently thriving in the G League and receiving valuable reps as the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

The idea of the first father-son duo in NBA history joining the Warriors is appealing.

However, considering the Warriors are preparing to swap Melton for Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schröder, this specific trade proposal won’t come to fruition.