Rich Paul says Raptors are interested in Bronny James, 'Masai loves him'

[Johnny Bball]

Can't wait for the moment when we draft this scrub then LBJ Sr says "nah, no thanks" to the idea of teaming up with junior on the Raptors

they already have people saying that. the idea of Lebron playing for whomever Bronny goes to is not guaranteed or ever be an opprtunity.

but if Bronny is hard working and looks to have upside via Masai's scouts, then so be it.

So nobody takes him before the Lakers.

[PushDaRock]

I feel like this board would implode if Masai drafted him, so I say bring it on.

[Brinbe]

I think if James can possibly develop into a decent POA defender he can def have some value to us. He didn't shoot it very well last year but he went through a crazy year on/off-the-court. I wouldn't completely write him off there. He does have some decent traits to his game that could translate as he matures.

That being said, there would prob be better prospects on-the-board at 31.

[PushDaRock]

Why would we want Bronny? I don't see a son of an NBA legend ever being a decent player. But hopefully he is.

What about Embiid and Marc Gasol? I still think Marc has more rizz.

Probably will be the first Father-Son duo in the HOF.

[HoopAndTheHarm]

"Masai loves him"... as a ball boy or mop guy during breaks.
Q: How can you tell when Rich Paul is spouting BS?
A: His lips are moving.

[SFour]

it's well known that Rich Paul and Masai have a good relationship.....Rich Paul wouldn't name drop Masai like this without it being true.

Anyways I think Raptors won't even have a chance to draft him at 31, he'll get drafted before that imo.

[Tripod]

I think the convo went more like:

P: what's your thoughts on Bronny?
M: young kid, needs lots of development
P: you guys are good a developing
M: we don't have a pick where he should go
P: you have 32
M: I know...lol
P: I have a win-win idea
M: go ahead
P: I want to leak that you are interested, so if i can get a team to bite on using a 1st on him
M: and I doing so, that pushes someone else to our pick we might want
P:correct
M: go ahead

[LBJKB24MJ23]

I cannot believe in any way, that a guy putting up miserable stats on a losing team, has upside worth any pick. Everything reported about him screams undrafted if his name was different. Even worse when you take into account his health issues.

that is true. but we are only privvy to surface level info. Masai and co have had more insightful details of certain players like a Siakam and FVV

I think Masai is probably genuine in liking Bronny. Paul George recently talked about how good the kid is. If his health is clear, then maybe we have a case of a high upside player who was just in a weird situation (USC was older and loaded with guards). My own take is that he needs to get out of the US market. He is under a microscope there and in Toronto it will be way easier to just play basketball.

Even if this is all 100% true, which I think is a stretch. He's still undersized, 6'1.5 with a solid 6'7 wingspan, but he has virtually zero offensive game, his shooting everywhere is just bad. He's honest to god a smaller, worse shooting Ochai. I don't possibly see a world where he exceeds fringe roleplayer at this point.

i wouldn't want the Raptors drafting him, but if the Raptors did draft him, its because all the teams like him in the second round because of low risk, and want an extended look at him before sending his ass to the g-league.

[Dalek]

I cannot believe in any way, that a guy putting up miserable stats on a losing team, has upside worth any pick. Everything reported about him screams undrafted if his name was different. Even worse when you take into account his health issues.

that is true. but we are only privvy to surface level info. Masai and co have had more insightful details of certain players like a Siakam and FVV

I think Masai is probably genuine in liking Bronny. Paul George recently talked about how good the kid is. If his health is clear, then maybe we have a case of a high upside player who was just in a weird situation (USC was older and loaded with guards). My own take is that he needs to get out of the US market. He is under a microscope there and in Toronto it will be way easier to just play basketball.

Even if this is all 100% true, which I think is a stretch. He's still undersized, 6'1.5 with a solid 6'7 wingspan, but he has virtually zero offensive game, his shooting everywhere is just bad. He's honest to god a smaller, worse shooting Ochai. I don't possibly see a world where he exceeds fringe roleplayer at this point.

James is 6-2 and 210 pounds with the 6'7 wingspan as a PG. That weight and size is equivalent to Lu Dort who is playing big minutes on a playoff team. Dort also came into the league raw but he developed.

I do think there is a fit in Toronto as we need defense and guy with a floor game. Ujiri in a recent interview about the draft:

"I think when you look at the draft, I think it's going to be best talent," Ujiri said. "We always look at the talent when we attack the draft, but honestly, our team is not at a point where we can really pick and choose.

"I know backup point guard is something that we'll focus on a little bit. I think a wing defender type player is something we'll focus on."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/its-no-surprise-masai-ujiri-loves-bronny-james-why-raptors-are-a-perfect-landing-spot-for-lebrons-son/ar-BB1oEAnp?ocid=BingNewsVerp

James is a back-up PG that can guard up with his weight and he has elite lineage which does determine how often a player will stick. Guys related to NBA players off the top of my head: Jerami Grant, Jabari Walker, Steph and Seth Curry, Gary Payton the III all found a way into the NBA and look like they will all secure second contracts.

I also think 98% of the storylines are about him being a nepobaby/nepoballer. I think that hate can be a motivating factor for him.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

it's well known that Rich Paul and Masai have a good relationship.....Rich Paul wouldn't name drop Masai like this without it being true.

Anyways I think Raptors won't even have a chance to draft him at 31, he'll get drafted before that imo.

some team giving him first round guaranteed money?

*with the 19th pick of 2024 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Bronny James from the USC Trojans*

[Scase]

that is true. but we are only privvy to surface level info. Masai and co have had more insightful details of certain players like a Siakam and FVV

I think Masai is probably genuine in liking Bronny. Paul George recently talked about how good the kid is. If his health is clear, then maybe we have a case of a high upside player who was just in a weird situation (USC was older and loaded with guards). My own take is that he needs to get out of the US market. He is under a microscope there and in Toronto it will be way easier to just play basketball.

Even if this is all 100% true, which I think is a stretch. He's still undersized, 6'1.5 with a solid 6'7 wingspan, but he has virtually zero offensive game, his shooting everywhere is just bad. He's honest to god a smaller, worse shooting Ochai. I don't possibly see a world where he exceeds fringe roleplayer at this point.

James is 6-2 and 210 pounds with the 6'7 wingspan as a PG. That weight and size is equivalent to Lu Dort who is playing big minutes on a playoff team. Dort also came into the league raw but he developed.

I do think there is a fit in Toronto as we need defense and guy with a floor game. Ujiri in a recent interview about the draft:

"I think when you look at the draft, I think it's going to be best talent," Ujiri said. "We always look at the talent when we attack the draft, but honestly, our team is not at a point where we can really pick and choose.

"I know backup point guard is something that we'll focus on a little bit. I think a wing defender type player is something we'll focus on."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/its-no-surprise-masai-ujiri-loves-bronny-james-why-raptors-are-a-perfect-landing-spot-for-lebrons-son/ar-BB1oEAnp?ocid=BingNewsVerp

James is a back-up PG that can guard up with his weight and he has elite lineage which does determine how often a player will stick. Guys related to NBA players off the top of my head: Jerami Grant, Jabari Walker, Steph and Seth Curry, Gary Payton the III all found a way into the NBA and look like they will all secure second contracts.

I also think 98% of the storylines are about him being a nepobaby/nepoballer. I think that hate can be a motivating factor for him.

Dort put up 16/4/2 on 40/31/70 splits on a team that went 23-11.
Bronny put up 5/3/2 on 36/27/67 splits on a team that went 15-18.

This is much more than a raw player who can develop. No one is complaining about the nepo baby talk for the other players, because they were all better players, who didn't get a fraction of the publicity. He would be a complete unknown if not for his name.

[Hero]

Oh please. Does anyone here think drafting him would work out.

[RoteSchroder]

it's well known that Rich Paul and Masai have a good relationship.....Rich Paul wouldn't name drop Masai like this without it being true.

Anyways I think Raptors won't even have a chance to draft him at 31, he'll get drafted before that imo.

It's possible that "good relationship" is both of them scratching each other's backs. Paul gets to hype up his client. Masai's #31 becomes more valuable. If Masai actually liked him that much and wanted him, he'd keep it a secret so that no team between 20-30 would draft him.

Oh please. Does anyone here think drafting him would work out.

Even if LBJ comes here, that's not a situation I would want. LBJ isn't bringing this team anywhere and would only hinder a year's worth of development and give us a lower 2025 pick. It would be good for the MLSE's bottom line of selling tickets though, but I don't know why a true fan would care about that.

i wouldn't want the Raptors drafting him, but if the Raptors did draft him, its because all the teams like him in the second round because of low risk, and want an extended look at him before sending his ass to the g-league.

Is Bronny low risk? It seems more so high risk, low reward.

His floor is playing for the Shanghai Sharks. His ceiling is a role player off the bench.

that is true. but we are only privvy to surface level info. Masai and co have had more insightful details of certain players like a Siakam and FVV

I think Masai is probably genuine in liking Bronny. Paul George recently talked about how good the kid is. If his health is clear, then maybe we have a case of a high upside player who was just in a weird situation (USC was older and loaded with guards). My own take is that he needs to get out of the US market. He is under a microscope there and in Toronto it will be way easier to just play basketball.

Even if this is all 100% true, which I think is a stretch. He's still undersized, 6'1.5 with a solid 6'7 wingspan, but he has virtually zero offensive game, his shooting everywhere is just bad. He's honest to god a smaller, worse shooting Ochai. I don't possibly see a world where he exceeds fringe roleplayer at this point.

James is 6-2 and 210 pounds with the 6'7 wingspan as a PG. That weight and size is equivalent to Lu Dort who is playing big minutes on a playoff team. Dort also came into the league raw but he developed.

I do think there is a fit in Toronto as we need defense and guy with a floor game. Ujiri in a recent interview about the draft:

"I think when you look at the draft, I think it's going to be best talent," Ujiri said. "We always look at the talent when we attack the draft, but honestly, our team is not at a point where we can really pick and choose.

"I know backup point guard is something that we'll focus on a little bit. I think a wing defender type player is something we'll focus on."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/its-no-surprise-masai-ujiri-loves-bronny-james-why-raptors-are-a-perfect-landing-spot-for-lebrons-son/ar-BB1oEAnp?ocid=BingNewsVerp

James is a back-up PG that can guard up with his weight and he has elite lineage which does determine how often a player will stick. Guys related to NBA players off the top of my head: Jerami Grant, Jabari Walker, Steph and Seth Curry, Gary Payton the III all found a way into the NBA and look like they will all secure second contracts.

I also think 98% of the storylines are about him being a nepobaby/nepoballer. I think that hate can be a motivating factor for him.

Dort is about an inch+ longer/taller in all areas, and he also averaged 16.1 PPG as a freshman compared to Bronny's 4.8 PPG. And with a much better pre-draft profile, Dort went undrafted...

So how does it make sense for someone at Bronny's caliber to be considered as a low 1st/high 2nd? Are there less than 31 players who have better profile than him?

If you look at freshman years of other 3+D PG's:

Jalen Suggs, 14.4 PPG, 9.4 BPM (5th)
Marcus Smart, 15.4 PPG, 10.8 BPM (6th)
Cason Wallace, 11.7 PPG, 7.7 BPM (10th)
Cole Anthony, 18.5 PPG, 5.1 BPM (15th)
Jevon Carter, 8.1 PPG, 7.3 BPM (32nd)
Miles McBride, 9.5 PPG, 8.4 BPM (36th)
Tre Jones, 9.4 PPG, 6.5 BPM (41st)
De'Anthony Melton, 8.3 PPG, 7.2 BPM (46th)
Gary Payton II, 13.4 PPG, 11 BPM (undrafted)
Lu Dort, 16.1 PPG, 3.1 BPM (undrafted)
Jose Alvarado, 12.1, 3.3 BPM (undrafted)

Bronny James, 4.8 PPG, 0.7 BPM

Wow, someone sticks out like a sore thumb. Technically, Bronny shouldn't even be declaring for the draft, he doesn't even fit the profile of an undrafted NBA prospect. If he weren't LBJ's son, he wouldn't even make it to G-league try outs.

[bringhimhome]

Bring him home

[will]

Rich Paul: draft Bronny and develop him slowly in Mississauga. I have nothing but respect for your organization. Give Gary 80/4, and I'll get you LeBron's final year in the NBA in a year.

Next year, LeBron signs with the Knicks.

Rich Paul: You're gonna trade Bronny to the Knicks for cash considerations so he can play with his dad.

And all this time, it was Adele pulling strings like Connie Corleone is Godfather III.

[alpngso]

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Nepoball

[ItsDanger]

Klutch has many clients, would he say this about Masai without his approval? Let's hope its just him negotiating with another team for higher selection.

[Loyal_Canuck]

I want to punch Rich Paul every time he speaks! Can’t wait until Lebron retires so he doesn’t get platformed

Bronny seeems like a good kid and I hope he achieves his ceiling wherever that takes him but I suspect that’s not a nba rotation player . The Jrue comparisons are utterly preposterous because Jrue is one of one.

[TheAlchemist23]

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