With just over a month until the 2024 NBA Draft, we are starting to hear more rumors about potential fits for Bronny James.
While many mock drafts originally had Bronny projected to the Lakers to play alongside his father LeBron James, other destinations are popping up as landing spots for the former USC guard.
For example, ESPN’s latest mock draft had Bronny projected to the Celtics just one pick before Los Angeles is on the clock in the second round. He was also rumored to have interest from the Jazz, who are on the clock early in the second round.
Rich Paul, who represents both Bronny and LeBron, spoke about a potential draft range for the freshman (via Bleacher Report):
“Bronny’s range has been all over. Some teams think he goes 20 to 40, some say 30-50, and some teams think he’ll go undrafted. It just takes one team. This is something I do every year during the draft process. This is not Bronny-centric. He’s a part of our draft class. I have to try to help find the right fit for all my guys as well as the right deal. So that’s how I’m looking at it.”
To his point, it only takes “one team” to decide to call the name of a prospect on draft night. One of those teams that may have interest, according to Shams Charania, is the Phoenix Suns.
The Phoenix Suns will conduct a workout with Bronny James ahead of the June NBA Draft, sources say. Phoenix has the 22nd pick and he is among several players in consideration. Bronny has over 10 workout invites but is expected to only visit a few teams, including Lakers and Suns. pic.twitter.com/3s7ElKRe0P
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 24, 2024
Phoenix president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones won multiple championships alongside LeBron James in both Cleveland and Miami as a player before becoming an executive.
If the Suns decide they want to select Bronny, they have the No. 22 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft (via The Athletic):
“Since the end of a disappointing season, Phoenix’s offseason plan, particularly with the draft, has been a daily conversation. With the 22nd pick, the financially limited Suns need a player who can contribute immediately. That’s probably not James. He could play and develop in Mullett Arena, a few miles from where the Suns play in downtown Phoenix. But that won’t help the Suns, built around the star power of Booker, Durant and Beal, get immediately closer to a title. Their window won’t stay open forever. Some think it has already closed.”
One could easily argue that a win-now player would make more sense for that franchise after failing to realize expectations during the postseason in the Western Conference.
But perhaps new head coach Mike Budenholzer and the Phoenix brass was impressed with what they saw from Bronny at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine and the Klutch Sports Pro Day in Los Angeles.
This adds further fuel to the fire that betting the under on Bronny’s draft position is probably a smart strategy.
