It is hard to remember any draft year when the discussion about a late pick eclipsed that of the top seeds. This year has been like this, and why not? It’s about Bronny James, the son of LeBron. With the NBA Draft only a week away, things are heating up as it is decision time for the participating franchises. But thanks to Rich Paul, we now know the frontrunners in signing Bronny.
According to ESPN, the Klutch Sports CEO opened up about Bronny’s draft situation and detailed the possible destinations for his client. Following the NBA Draft Combine, Bronny only worked out with two franchises, the LA Lakers and the Phoenix Suns.
According to Paul, even if the Lakers or Suns don’t pick him, that won’t be an issue. “There are other teams that love Bronny. For example, Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto. If it’s not the Lakers, it will be someone else. Minnesota would love to get Bronny in, but I don’t know who their owner is going to be.“
“[Mavs GM] Nico Harrison is like an uncle to Bronny. If the Lakers don’t take him at 55, Dallas would take him at 58 and give him a guaranteed deal. Masai [Ujiri, Raptors president,] loves him. They could take him without even seeing him at 31. Workouts aren’t everything for these teams,” Paul told Jonathan Givony.
For Minnesota, Mike Conley is the only established point guard available, and pairing him with Bronny could help the 19-year-old if the Timberwolves go for him. The Mavs already have Luka Doncic as their starting point guard, and the room for development will be mostly without significant playing time.
The Raptors already have a young core, and adding Bronny to that might be a double-edged sword. While the Raptors need an uplifting force, signing an inexperienced backup point guard will help Bronny more than it will help the franchise.
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But what about the Lakers? How can Bronny’s draft influence LeBron James’ future? Rich Paul also touched on that.
Bronny James and LeBron Not a Package Deal
Amidst all the noise surrounding Bronny James, the only opinion that has remained constant throughout recent months is that the father-son duo are a package deal. But the reality is far from that.
Paul told Givony, “LeBron is off this idea of having to play with Bronny. If he does, he does. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. There’s no deal made that it’s guaranteed that if the Lakers draft Bronny at 55, he (LeBron) will resign.”
The super-agent also mentioned the possibility of the Suns signing LeBron. “The Lakers can draft Bronny, and LeBron doesn’t resign. LeBron is also not going to Phoenix for a minimum deal. We can squash that now,” Paul revealed.
Last month, Paul hinted that LeBron could opt out of his player option in the contract and hit free agency. This gives Bronny a better chance of getting drafted to the right team in terms of development without worrying about following LeBron where he goes.
Paul’s input on the current situation indicates that, despite being deemed an early second-round pick, the draft night could surprise everyone. Bronny James will be the biggest story of the night when the dust settles.
Also Read: LeBron James Drops Truth Bomb About Playing On The Same Team As His Son Bronny & It May Shock You
