The Toronto Raptors haven't eliminated USC guard Bronny James from consideration in the 2024 NBA draft.
"I think all these players are guys we're looking at. He's in the mix," assistant general manager Dan Tolzman told reporters Tuesday. "... Every player on the board we're looking long and hard at and I wouldn't say we've ruled anybody out."
James' agent, Rich Paul, acknowledged to ESPN's Jonathan Givony on June 19 the draft prospect had only worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns to that point. Paul said that would likely remain the case despite interest from other teams and singled out Toronto as one such suitor.
"There are other teams that love Bronny. For example, Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto," Paul said. "If it's not the Lakers, it will be someone else. Minnesota would love to get Bronny in, but I don't know who their owner is going to be. [Mavs GM] Nico Harrison is like an uncle to Bronny. If the Lakers don't take him at 55, Dallas would take him at 58 and give him a guaranteed deal. Masai [Ujiri, Raptors president,] loves him. They could take him without even seeing him at 31. Workouts aren't everything for these teams."
In their present position, taking James would require the Raptors to make a major reach, though. They have two picks in the 2024 draft (Nos. 19 and 31), and both are well ahead of where Bronny is generally regarded.
For Toronto and anybody who isn't Los Angeles or Phoenix, the possibility of increasing your odds of signing LeBron James by taking his son in the draft probably doesn't exist, either.
"LeBron is off this idea of having to play with Bronny," he said.
Maybe the Raptors saw enough from James at USC and during the draft combine to warrant an aggressive play on the second day of the draft. For now, it's hard to see him playing north of the border.
