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Many are curious if and when Bronny James will be selected in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. The son of LeBron James who declared for the draft following one season at USC where he averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game predominantly off of the bench for the Trojans.
LeBron James has verbally expressed interest in playing with his Bronny in the NBA, which makes his son’s workout for the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the draft logical. But the fact that James has only worked out with Los Angeles and the Phoenix Suns in the draft evaluation process has raised some eyebrows.
James’ agent and CEO of Klutch Sports Group Rich Paul recently spoke with Jonathan Givony and made it clear that his client’s lack of pre-draft workouts are an intentional move. Even revealing a handful of team’s that have expressed interest in Bronny James despite him not working out for them.
“There are other teams that love Bronny,” Paul said. “For example, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors. If it’s not the Lakers, it will be someone else.“
The Lakers have the No. 17 and No. 55 picks in the upcoming draft, which would give the father-son duo the best chances of joining forces in Los Angeles. But Paul seems confident that even if the Lakers do not select Bronny James a variety of other franchises would very well do so despite not seeing him workout.
“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 explained.
James’ limited amount of private workouts with teams is a strategy that Paul has been using for several years with his clients. Especially ones in need of more development like James in an attempt to find an organization that values the player most followed by a push to get them there. As James will likely not work out with any other teams with the draft one week away.
“Lakers and Phoenix, that was it,” Paul said. “There could be last-minute stuff, if someone calls me late. We’ll see.”
The NBA Draft begins on June 26 at 8 p.m. ET, and it will not just be fascinating to see where James lands, but if it’s followed by another domino of his father joining forces with him as well if the Lakers do not select him.
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Dolphins' Mike McDaniel Reveals Tua Tagovailoa Decision Before Bills Game
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Buffalo Bills receive devastating news on injured rookie CB
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Not All Injury News Is Bad After Packers’ Painful Loss to Panthers
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Carolina has one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, and it obviously won’t get any easier against the powerful Eagles on Monday night. Philadelphia finished second in the league last season with 179.3 rushing yards per game as NFL rushing champion Saquon Barkley finished with 2,005 yards. They’re only 19th this season with 111.6 rushing yards per game, but Barkley rushed for 150 yards against the Giants before the bye. LG Aaron Banks The Packers revamped their offensive line this offseason, highlighted by the signing of left guard Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million contract. His first season in Green Bay has been tormented by injuries. On Sunday, he did not return after suffering a stinger in the opening series. Sean Rhyan replaced him for the final 56 snaps. Banks should be fine for this week, LaFleur said. Of the team’s eight games, Banks started six but played only 51.6 percent of the offensive snaps. He had played every snap the previous three games, though, and seemed to be on an upward trajectory. “Obviously, the beginning of the year, banged up, all the groins, backs, things that he had, and I think every game he’s played he’s looked better and better and better, and I think this game was no different,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said last week. “He had his best game [against Pittsburgh] and I thought he did a really nice job. He’s doing a good job of being the enforcer out there, plays with physicality.” WR Dontayvion Wicks Dontayvion Wicks missed the last two games with a calf injury. Before that, injuries limited him to 21 snaps vs. Cincinnati and 15 snaps vs. Arizona. While the return of Christian Watson from a torn ACL lessened the blow, the Packers missed him on Sunday when Tucker Kraft was out with a knee injury, Matthew Golden was out with a shoulder injury and Watson was being checked for a concussion. Wicks hasn’t practiced the last two weeks but did catch balls from a JUGS machine on Friday. He is fifth on the team with 13 receptions but hasn’t had a gain of 20-plus yards since Dec. 5 at Detroit. DE Lukas Van Ness Lukas Van Ness suffered a foot injury during the first half against Cincinnati in Week 6. He has neither played nor practiced the last three weeks. On Sunday, the Packers essentially went with only three defensive ends, with Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary starting and Kingsley Enagbare playing 26 snaps off the bench. Rookie Barryn Sorrell played only one snap. Both he and Dontayvion Wicks could “potentially” return this week, LaFleur said. After long layoffs, they presumably will have to practice on Wednesday. WR Jayden Reed Jayden Reed remains on injured reserve following the broken collarbone sustained in Week 2. While he has started working with trainers, it doesn’t appear his 21-day practice window will open this week. “He’s getting healthier, yes,” LaFleur said. “But would I say he’s close? I mean, what is close?” TE Tucker Kraft Kraft will miss the rest of the season following his torn ACL. “He’s doing as good as you could ever be doing, considering the circumstances,” LaFleur said. “Tuck’s a guy that he’s not going to flinch. That’s why we love him. He’s a hell of a player, hell of a teammate, hell of a guy. I’m bummed for him. I’m bummed for us. It’s part of it. It’s got to be that next-man-up mentality. Unfortunate for him, but now other guys are going to get an opportunity.” The next men up will be Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick, with Josh Whyle on the practice squad after catching 28 passes last year for the Titans. Musgrave caught three passes on the final possession on Sunday, including a 21-yarder to jump-start the game-tying drive. “Luke’s a guy that we’ve got a ton of confidence in,” LaFleur said. “I think his career got started off, faced a little adversity being in and out of the lineup with some injuries, but he definitely brings a vertical presence, and we’re going to have to put him in situations where he can utilize his strengths.” SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY PACKERS NEWSLETTER
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