Several Teams Considered Drafting Bronny James, Were Turned Away By LeBron James’ Agent

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Apparently, several teams considered drafting Bronny James but were worried about annoying his father, LeBron James.

Ahead of the draft, former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers revealed on ESPN that Bronny and LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, warned teams not to draft Bronny because he would opt to play in Australia instead of playing for their team.

“Rich Paul is calling teams, don’t take Bronny James … if you take him, he’s going to Australia.”

Eventually, Bronny was drafted by the Lakers, but according to NBA insider Shams Charania, he had several suitors who were turned off by Paul’s warning.

Via The Pat McAfee Show

“I was told at least a couple of teams, including the Suns, who did bring him in for a workout, they were the only other team besides the Lakers to work him out. They were a team who did consider it. But I think at the end of the day, Rich Paul, being respectful to LeBron James to an extent, and also understanding the amount of media attention if you draft Bronny James without having the blessing. Without having that relationship.”

“If you’re the Suns, that opens a pandora’s box. Then you start talking ‘Does Kevin Durant get traded for LeBron’ What does this mean?’ Because you know LeBron James at the end of the day wants to play with Bronny. The Suns avoided it. A couple other teams looked at it and avoided it. He ends up with the Lakers. Rich Paul, certainly throughout the second round told teams do not draft Bronny James.”

It’ll be interesting to see how the Lakers will use Bronny next season and if he’ll actually get any playing time with his father.

H/T RealGM.com