Rumor Roundup: Latest on Bronny James, 2024 NBA Draft, James Borrego

With the 2024 NBA Draft now just a week away, the rumors about Bronny James, the Lakers and LeBron are starting to really heat up.

It’s hard to imagine so many rumors a week ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft about someone who is expected to be a second round pick and, potentially, a late one at that. However, Bronny James is not the typical draft prospect either.

The reports are only heating up, including on Wednesday when Rich Paul went on the record to talk a lot about Bronny, LeBron and the Lakers. Let’s dive into it.

Bronny finished with workouts

Much has been made about the workouts and lack thereof for Bronny in the build up to the draft. He did work out with the Lakers and he did work out with the Suns, but it sounds like that is going to be it.

On Wednesday, Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul, who represents both Bronny and LeBron, spoke to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress about Bronny and revealed a lot, including that he is done working out for teams before next week’s draft.

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

“Lakers and Phoenix, that was it,” Paul said. “There could be last-minute stuff, if someone calls me late. We’ll see.”

It’s been a very interesting predraft process for Bronny, who has had his workouts extremely limited. According to Paul, that’s by design, but also not just because he’s Bronny.

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

“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.”

Now, if you choose to believe this is the case, more power to you. Klutch has always tried to control where their clients go as much as anyone, but it certainly feels like that’s been even more the case with Bronny.

Now, Paul also stated that other teams are interested in Bronny outside of Phoenix and Los Angeles. He named the Wolves, Mavs and Raptors as interested teams. All of those teams have second round picks as well.

No package deal with LeBron, Bronny

This is not new news and, to be frank, this is probably the last time we’ll write about it, but Paul reiterated that drafting Bronny will not, in any way, impact LeBron’s free agency decision.

“LeBron is off this idea of having to play with Bronny,” Paul told ESPN. “If he does, he does. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. There’s no deal made that it’s guaranteed that if the Lakers draft Bronny at 55, he [LeBron] will re-sign. If that was the case, I would force them to take him at 17. We don’t need leverage. The Lakers can draft Bronny and LeBron doesn’t re-sign. LeBron is also not going to Phoenix for a minimum deal. We can squash that now.”

This isn’t the first time Paul, or even LeBron, has put this out there. We’re long past the days of LeBron declaring he was going to play with his son when he got to the league. Eventually, that day may come but nothing about Bronny’s landing spot in the draft or as an undrafted free agent is going to factor into LeBron’s decision.

James Borrego competition?

Even if the Lakers seem set to hire JJ Redick, that still isn’t a done deal and there are still, theoretically, multiple candidates to consider. Among those is James Borrego, who is one of three candidates — along with Redick and Dan Hurley — who the team has formally interviewed.

Borrego, though, is in some demand around the league. The Cavs have also had him at their facility and another team may be entering the mix.

On Wednesday, the Pistons fired Monty Williams one year after giving him an absurd amount of money. And according to multiple reports, Borrego could be a candidate.

The Lakers reportedly have interest in Borrego as an assistant coach, but it seems quite unlikely he isn’t hired somewhere this offseason. Detroit makes sense as they just hired Trajan Langdon to their front office. Langdon served in the Pelicans front office last season, where Borrego is currently an assistant coach.

Search for a center

The Lakers could look for upgrades in several areas this offseason, whether through the draft or free agency. One of those is at the center position. An injury to Christian Wood and overall inconsistent play from Jaxson Hayes led to neither featuring at all or minimally in the playoffs.

Naturally, that appears to be an area the team is focusing on getting more production from. According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Lakers are looking for improvements in the front court.

But regardless of who is coaching Los Angeles next season, the Lakers are monitoring their offseason options at center closely, per people with knowledge of the situation.

The Lakers have visited with some top centers in the draft. They have the No. 17 pick in the first round. The club could also obviously pursue a center in free agency. Adding a traditional big man would, in theory, allow Anthony Davis more opportunity to play power forward alongside a center.

The wording on this is a bit odd on this report, but it does make sense. Their spot in the draft at No. 17 should present a number of center options, should they look to go that direction. The Mavericks showed that a team could draft a big man and have him play a big role in a playoff run this postseason.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.