Agent says limited NBA draft workouts by Bronny James ‘by design’

Sources from half a dozen NBA teams have told ESPN that they have had difficulty securing workouts with 2024 prospect Bronny James, but the former USC guard’s agent confirms that James currently has individual appearances for only two teams trained – the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers – and says that’s by design.

Agent Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports Group, pushed back to ESPN on Wednesday on the idea that James received different treatment than other players during the pre-draft process.

The Suns are No. 22 and the Lakers are Nos. 17 and 55 in the NBA draft, which takes place June 26-27 in New York (ABC/ESPN/ESPN+).

Other NBA teams have told ESPN they are interested in seeing James in a different context and training environment than the one they scouted at USC.

“This is nothing new,” says Paul. “The goal is to find a team that appreciates your guy and tries to push him to get there. It’s important to understand the context and realize that this has always been the strategy at many of my customers, especially those who need development like Bronny. My stuff is designed.”

Paul pointed to his track record of steering clients to preferred destinations, as he did with Talen Horton-Tucker (2019 No. 46 pick), Brandon Boston Jr. (pick No. 51 in 2021) and Chris Livingston (pick No. 58). pick in 2023) are getting all the guaranteed deals despite having few workouts and being picked late in the draft.

Paul said he also employed similar strategies to MarJon Beauchamp (No. 24 in 2022) and Darius Garland (No. 5 in 2019), protecting his clients from workouts and withholding medical information from teams. that is now prohibited by the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.

“Bronny is the same as my previous clients,” said Paul. “I let teams know early on that if you’re planning on signing Bronny, here’s what you need to know: If you don’t want to give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about. It is difficult to get real development on a two-sided agreement.

“I don’t care if he goes to the Lakers, or to Phoenix, or what number he gets picked. It’s about fitness.’

Paul later added: “If Bronny’s name was Charles Jacobsen and he was my client, I would do the same thing: identify teams that have real interest.”

LeBron James has said in the past that he would like to work with his son, but the Lakers star said after his final game this season that he “hasn’t thought much lately” about playing alongside Bronny. The four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion just completed his 21st season and could become a free agent if he opts out of his contract with the Lakers.

“The young man will decide what he wants to do and how he wants his career to go,” LeBron James said at the time.

At the NBA draft combine in May, Bronny said his mentality wasn’t so much about playing with his father as it was about “making it to the league.”

“LeBron is done with the idea of ​​having to play with Bronny,” Paul told ESPN on Wednesday. “If he does, he does. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. There’s no deal in place that guarantees that if the Lakers draft Bronny at 55, he (LeBron) will re-sign. If that was the case I would force them to sign him at 17. We don’t need leverage. Lakers can draft Bronny and LeBron isn’t going to Phoenix again on a minimum deal either.

“There are other teams that like Bronny. Like Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto. If it’s not the Lakers, it’ll be someone else. Minnesota would love to get Bronny, but I don’t know who their owner will go to.” be. (Mavs GM) Nico Harrison is like an uncle to Bronny. If the Lakers don’t hire 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 at age 31 without even seeing him. Training isn’t everything for these teams.”

With the draft still a week away, Paul says Bronny is likely done with workouts unless something unexpected happens.

“Lakers and Phoenix, that’s it,” Paul said. “Last-minute things can happen if someone calls me too late. We will see.’

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analysis service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.