Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans
At first glance, the media frenzy surrounding LeBron James Jr., also known as “Bronny” James, may seem irrelevant to the Toronto Raptors. Unless they plan to draft the freshman guard with a famous lineage, other teams can simply follow the hype on ESPN and NBA TV about a potential second-round pick.
However, a recent rumor suggests the Raptors could benefit from the interest in LeBron James’ eldest son.
Bronny James is the buzz of the NBA Draft
Bronny James has been monitored as a draft prospect for years. While he clearly inherited some of his father’s athleticism and basketball IQ, his physical development has not reached the level required to dominate in the NBA. At the recent NBA Draft Combine, he measured 6’1″, significantly shorter than his father’s 6’8″ frame.
In Bronny’s favor, besides his famous lineage, is that his challenging freshman season at USC can be partly attributed to a dysfunctional roster and a cardiac incident he suffered during the summer before the season. The fact that he returned to play at all is remarkable.
Even with an optimistic outlook, Bronny is generally considered a second-round prospect, with many analysts and scouts ranking him lower. His widespread media attention stems from being LeBron James’ son. His media availability at the combine resembled a chaotic scene from “The Lion King” due to the frenzy around him.
A specific report by Krysten Peek, an NBA Draft Analyst for Yahoo Sports, indicates that the Utah Jazz are interested in working out Bronny and might draft him with the 32nd pick.
Whether the Jazz, led by longtime Boston Celtics decision-maker Danny Ainge, actually draft Bronny James is somewhat irrelevant. If teams believe there’s a chance, the 31st pick suddenly becomes highly valuable.
To secure the chance to draft Bronny James, teams may need to trade up to the 31st pick to get ahead of the Jazz. This could include the Los Angeles Lakers, hoping to entice LeBron James to stay with the franchise, or another team aiming to attract LeBron by drafting his son.
That 31st pick, originally held by the Detroit Pistons, is now in the hands of the Toronto Raptors.
The Toronto Raptors have a valuable asset.
The Detroit Pistons had the worst record in the NBA this season, earning them the first pick of the second round. However, they traded that pick in November 2020 as part of a deal involving Luke Kennard and several second-round picks to the LA Clippers. The Clippers later traded the pick to the Knicks, who then included it in a trade to Toronto for OG Anunoby, along with Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett.
Now, the Raptors hold the pick that has garnered so much interest due to Bronny James. Teams keen on drafting him might believe they need to secure the 31st pick to do so.
The excitement will peak during the NBA Draft itself, which spans two nights. If Bronny James is still available after the first round, speculation will intensify about which team might draft him. During this time, the Raptors can entertain trade offers for the 31st pick, from teams interested in Bronny or others targeting different players.
While the Raptors and their fans may be disappointed at losing their lottery pick to the San Antonio Spurs in the Jakob Poeltl trade, holding the most valuable second-round pick offers some consolation.
If Bronny James is drafted this year, the Raptors could benefit for the first time from LeBron James’ career, by leveraging the interest in his son.
