With only 24 hours until the NBA Draft, rumors are circulating furiously in the league, it’s difficult to follow everything. Here are some trending topics and rumors as the 2024 NBA Draft approaches.
Let’s start with a series of questions about Bronny James.
Does LeBron James want to play with his son?
Sure, but it’s not the priority it once was – and it’s fair to wonder if it’s Bronny’s dream. (How many kids really want to go to work with their dad every day?) In previous years, LeBron said he wanted to play with Bronny on several occasions, leading some teams to think that if they drafted Bronny, they could obtain a global market. LeBron has toned that down this season. Then LeBron and Bronny’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, worked to squash the concept, as he stated in a interview with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
“LeBron no longer has the idea of having to play with Bronny. If he does it, he does it. But if he doesn’t do it, he doesn’t do it.
LeBron and Bronny are not a package deal. For example, there were rumors that the Suns might draft Bronny in the hopes that LeBron would come there, but all Phoenix can offer LeBron is a veteran minimum contract (have fun asking him for a $47 million pay cut).
“LeBron won’t go to Phoenix for a minimum deal either. We can crush this now,” Paul said.
Will Bronny James be drafted in the first round?
No.
You should never say never in the NBA, but it’s very, very unlikely that Bronny will hear his name called on the first day of the draft.
Bronny tested as one of the fastest and most explosive athletes during the NBA draft in Chicago, performing well in shooting drills and scoring 13 points in a scrimmage. He also impressed at a well-attended pro day at the Lakers’ practice facility last week. https://t.co/wtyfLGOeUZ pic.twitter.com/m0kMK0xohp
– Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 29, 2024
Bronny is not ready for the NBA as a player and probably needs a few years of development. If a team doesn’t think LeBron is coming (see note above), Bronny isn’t a first-rounder on his own. His agent, Rich Paul, is doing everything he can to get Bronny a regular NBA contract — not a two-way deal — but being a first-round pick means several years of guaranteed money. Teams don’t want to be locked into Bronny for that long. The second round is where teams looking to roll the dice on a player get their guy back.
Will the Lakers sign Bronny James?
Probably, though they’re not the only team interested. The Lakers have the No. 55 pick in the NBA draft (late in the second round) and that seems to be Bronny’s turf.
However, other teams have some interest. Bronny worked out for Phoenix, Paul mentioned Minnesota and Dallas were interested, and a Toronto assistant general manager said Tuesday that Bronny was considering them.
Dan Tolzman, Raptors assistant general manager, on Rich Paul suggesting Toronto might be interested in Bronny James: “I think all of those players are guys we look at. He’s in the mix… We’re studying every player on the board carefully and I wouldn’t say we’ve ruled out anyone. »
–Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) June 25, 2024
Will Donovan Clingan be drafted No. 1 overall?
Buzz has been building for the past few weeks in league circles that the Atlanta Hawks are really, really good on Clingan after he had a solid workout for them. Atlanta will reshape its roster this offseason but if the Hawks plan to keep one of Trae Young or Dejounte Murray to remain competitive (rearrangement around the guard), choosing the defensive center makes sense (this allows them to trade center Clint Capela and re-store the list).
However, French winger Zaccharie Risacher is still the most likely to go No. 1 and appears to be at the top of most NBA teams’ draft boards (and most serious mock drafts). Risacher is young and looks like he could develop into a prototypical NBA wing, position position in the league. Most teams would take him first overall.
The betting markets still have Risacher as the favorite to go first (-260) with Clingan far behind (+270).
If the Hawks keep the No. 1 pick – as general manager Landry Fields said, they probably would, but he listens to the calls – they could take Risacher, but Atlanta might be happier to trade a few spots, while still getting Clingan and adding another pick or player in the trade.
Will Alex Sarr be drafted No. 1 overall?
It’s very unlikely, he’s almost a lock for the Wizards at #2. Any team moving up to No. 1 wants Clingan or Risacher, not Sarr. Although there are rumors that the Hawks are considering grabbing the French center, Sarr hasn’t worked out for Atlanta and multiple reports suggest it’s just a smokescreen to try and get the Wizards to trade up to get their man back.
Who could be traded in the 2024 NBA Draft?
Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans tops this list.
Expect a flurry of trades in this year’s draft, but if you had to bet on moving one player, it would have to be Ingram. The Pelicans actively tested the trade market for the wing who averaged 20.8 points per game last season but never fully integrated into Zion Williamson. The Pelicans are looking for players who better fit their core and they want picks. If Ingram isn’t moved in the draft, he’ll hit free agency early.
Which teams are most likely to trade their draft picks?
Every pick is available at the right price, this is not a draft with a “you can’t pass him up” player. Hawks general manager Landry Fields said he liked this draft and intends to keep his No. 1 overall pickbut he admitted that his phone was ringing and he was still talking to the teams.
Houston is the team most likely to trade their first-round pick. They want to be a playoff team now and would like to move the No. 3 pick to help get players who can do that (or push the draft pick later). There has also been talk of the Spurs combining their two picks (Nos. 4 and 8) to get a player or move up in this draft. The same goes for Portland, with 7 and 14.
Which team will draft Purdue big man Zach Edey?
There have been rumors that the Portland Trail Blazers – who have picks No. 7 and 14 – are interested in Edey. Portland at 7 is also considered the absolute floor for UConn’s Clingan. Portland’s interest in Clingan and Edey is a bit strange considering the Trail Blazers are already paying Deandre Ayton big money to be their old-school center, and they have Robert Williams to back him up.
Utah at No. 10 and Sacramento at No. 14 have both worked out Edey and have reportedly been impressed, both looking for a defensive center to soak up some minutes. If Edey drops to 15, the Heat could grab him, although Edey is unlikely to overtake the Trail Blazers at 14 (unless they draft a center at 7 or make an unexpected move) .
Nets trying to trade in this draft
Brooklyn traded away every pick in its draft to build a win-now team and bring in Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, then surround them with win-win role players. Needless to say, how bad this went, but it means the Nets are without a pick in this draft. SNY’s Ian Begley reports the Nets are confident they will find a pick they can take care of and make in this draft.