Rich Paul has confirmed Bronny James has worked out individually for just the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers at this point and that is is part of Klutch Sports’ strategy for his client.
“This is nothing new,” Paul said. “The goal is to find a team that values your guy and try to push him to get there. It’s important to understand the context and realize that this has always been the strategy with many of my clients throughout the years, especially those in need of development like Bronny. My stuff is by design.”
Paul previously steered clients to preferable designations such as Talen Horton-Tucker to the Lakers in 2019 and Brandon Boston Jr. to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021.
“Bronny is the same as my previous clients,” Paul said. “I got the word out early to teams that if you plan on bringing Bronny in, here’s what you need to know: If you won’t give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about. It’s hard to get real development on a two-way deal.
“I don’t care about him going to the Lakers, or Phoenix, or about what number he gets picked. It’s about fit.”
Paul added that the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors are interested in James.
“There are other teams that love Bronny,” added Paul. “For example, Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto. If it’s not the Lakers, it will be someone else. 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.”
James is likely done with any workouts.
“Lakers and Phoenix, that was it,” Paul said. “There could be last-minute stuff, if someone calls me late. We’ll see.”