Agent Wealthy Paul is telling sure groups to move on Bronny James within the second spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft, ESPN’s Bob Myers stated through the occasion’s broadcast.
Myers famous that Paul warned groups that James would play in Australia if he’s drafted by a sure group.
That confirms a earlier report made byThe Athletic and Stadium NBA insider Shams Charania.
Charania mentioned the likelihood throughout an look on the Pat McAfee Present, noting that Paul might doubtlessly have already got an concept in thoughts for the place he needs Bronny to land:
“The best way that Wealthy Paul dealt with Chris Livingston final yr, I feel it’s a must to have a look at that when you concentrate on a man like Bronny James, who for those who’re making an attempt to place him to a particular group, or a particular spot the place on this case, might it’s the Lakers at 55? It could not shock me if at any level within the second spherical there’s gonna be calls made to be like: ‘Pay attention, do not draft him, he is obtained his spot already, let him proceed to move you by.’
“As a result of I feel the best way they’ve dealt with this course of from the start, it is not going to be only a two-way contract or a query of the place he is gonna find yourself, within the G League or no matter, it is being on the roster and being on a multi-year contract and I anticipate that to be the case for Bronny James, it is only a query of the place.”
Charania added that James solely labored out for the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, noting that it was by design.
Bronny’s father, NBA legend LeBron James, is the Lakers’ franchise participant and is predicted to be with the group subsequent season regardless of having a participant choice in his contract, so the Lakers have lengthy been favored to pick Bronny with the No. 55 total choose.
After Bronny was not chosen within the first spherical of the draft on Wednesday, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie reported that league sources felt it was “possible” Lakers would use the No. 55 total choose on the previous USC guard.
It’s unclear what kind of function Bronny would have in L.A., particularly as a rookie, however Charania pressured that Paul is making an attempt to safe his consumer a multi-year contract.
Charania talked about Livingston, who’s one other one in all Paul’s shoppers, and his state of affairs is one that would find yourself mirroring Bronny’s.
After Livingston was not chosen within the first spherical of the 2023 NBA draft, he fell all the best way to the Milwaukee Bucks with the ultimate choose of the draft at No. 58 total.
Regardless of that, Livingston landed a four-year, $7.7 million rookie deal, which was the biggest wage ever for a remaining choose within the draft.
If Bronny goes fifty fifth total to the Lakers, he might be among the many remaining picks within the draft and might maybe anticipate an analogous deal.
Bronny entered the school ranks as a extremely touted participant, however he missed the primary eight video games of his freshman season after going into cardiac arrest throughout a exercise final summer time.
Whereas Bronny recovered, he by no means actually discovered his footing at USC, averaging simply 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists per recreation, whereas capturing solely 36.6 % from the sector and 26.7 % from three-point vary.
Nonetheless, Bronny is considered as a high quality defender and playmaker, and he has an opportunity to carve out a task for himself on an NBA group in some unspecified time in the future.
League curiosity in Bronny outdoors the Lakers is unclear, however it’s tough to check him falling previous the Lakers at No. 55 due partially to LeBron’s presence.