This week’s NBA draft is littered with questions.
Questions about who goes No. 1, whether it is one of the Frenchmen, Alex Sarr or Zaccharie Risacher, or possibly a mystery player.
Questions about the overall strength of this draft, if it really is as weak as some experts have painted it to be.
What isn’t in doubt, what is crystal clear, is the prospect who has created the most debate, and will face the most scrutiny moving forward: LeBron James’ son, Bronny.
Odds are, Bronny won’t hear his name called until late in the second round — if it is called at all.
He’s only gone through two individual workouts, with the Lakers and Suns, although he had opportunities for others.
His agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, has said they won’t entertain two-way offers, an unheard of position for someone in the 6-foot-2 Bronny’s projected draft range.
“This is nothing new,” Paul told ESPN. “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.”
Bronny, 19, was ranked 28th in his class by 247Sports.com coming out of high school.
He was a McDonald’s All-American, although that was considered questionable at the time.
He averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 36.6 percent from the field in 25 games for USC this past season, underwhelming numbers on a team that went just 15-18.
“We wouldn’t be talking about him if his name was Joe Thomas,” an NBA executive said. “Small combo guard that’s not going to grow much more, that has a very good feel on how to play. Not a great ball handler, streaky shooter, strong, vertical athlete and just a decent defender right now.”
A scout was more diplomatic, describing Bronny as someone who is “fundamentally sound and plays the right way with an improving skill set and willingness to defend.”
A second scout said it was disappointing that Bronny is even being discussed as potentially getting drafted considering his limited body of work in college, and would rather discuss players who were deserving of hearing their names called.
The first scout went on to say that he would’ve liked to see Bronny stay in school and could’ve been a terrific college player.
Bronny’s lone season at USC was impacted by the guard’s suffering cardiac arrest July 24 caused by a congenital heart defect.
He wasn’t able to return to practice until late November and made his college debut Dec. 10.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Bronny put up impressive numbers.
He registered the sixth-highest max vertical leap of 40.5 inches and was second among all participants in the 3-point star shooting drill.
“He’s a very versatile player. He can play on and off the ball on offense. He’s improved his shooting,” said SMU and former USC coach Andy Enfield, who raved about Bronny the person as low maintenance, hard-working and without the ego of someone of his celebrity. “He’s a very smart offensive basketball player. He’s a good passer. Defensively, he has a natural feel for where to be, whether he’s in help side or on the ball and he’s a very good athlete, he’s very fast in transition.
“We have always thought as a coaching staff that Bronny had NBA potential and would become a much better basketball player in the next few years. … I think Bronny is going to be a terrific NBA player. It’s just a matter of time.”
The other part of this is how Bronny’s selection impacts LeBron.
The superstar hasn’t hidden from his desire to play with his son before completing his exceptional career.
Lately, James and Paul have done their best to quiet that talk, with Bronny telling reporters at the combine that he’s more focused on making it to the NBA than joining his dad there.
Paul said there is no guarantee that if the Lakers take Bronny with their second-round pick, 55th overall, free agent-to-be LeBron will re-sign with them.
He also dismissed the notion that LeBron would agree to a minimum deal with the Suns if they took his son.
“The young man will decide what he wants to do and how he wants his career to go,” LeBron said after the Lakers’ elimination from the first round of the playoffs.
Obviously, if not for his father’s status, Bronny wouldn’t be in this position, headed to the NBA without the college track record or potential that teams covet.
But he’s going to get this opportunity — deserved or not — to prove he belongs.
“I just want to, you know, have people know my name is Bronny James and not be identified as just LeBron James’ son,” Bronny said at the combine.
— Additional reporting by Stefan Bondy
