With just one week until the 2024 NBA Draft, one of the biggest questions is when Bronny James will be selected, and according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, one team is shaping up to be the answer.
The Los Angeles Lakers could potentially select James next week, Givony said on NBA Today on Tuesday afternoon. The son of LeBron James is making an intriguing draft claim after an up-and-down rookie season at USC, and reports suggest James will only work out with the Lakers and Suns.
Givony said James plans to work out with the Suns one more time before the draft, but the Lakers could still take him with the 55th overall pick. Making his situation even more intriguing are reports that agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports doesn't want to sign him to a two-way contract.
“I don't think anyone would be surprised if the Lakers select him 55th overall… This has been a trend for the last few years,” Givony said while previewing his upcoming mock draft. “NBA teams that I've spoken to have said they can't get Bronny James on their team. The Phoenix Suns, a team that drafts in the late 20s to early 30s, are scheduled to have a second workout with Bronny later this week, but other than that, I don't expect any NBA teams to be able to work him out.”
“The perception among teams is that his agent, Rich Paul, doesn't want to sign him to a two-way contract. And the 40-58 range where he would be selected is the range where a two-way contract would be signed. So, right now, Bronny James will go down to 55th. I don't think there's any NBA team that wants to draft him and deal with the repercussions. So, as of today, that's the trend.”
James missed the start of the season while recovering from cardiac arrest during the offseason, but has played in 25 games this year, including six starts. He declared for the draft while retaining his college eligibility and also entered the transfer portal, but ultimately decided to stay in the draft and forgo his eligibility.
According to On3 industry rankings, a weighted average utilizing all four major recruiting media companies, James arrived on campus as a four-star prospect and the No. 25 overall prospect in the class of 2023. On3 was the only service to rate James as a five-star.
