Rich Paul rules out 1 scenario for Bronny James
Nov 24, 2023; La Jolla, California, USA; USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) warms up before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at LionTree Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Bronny James has left his options open as he prepares for the NBA Draft, but there is one situation he is not open to when it comes to beginning his professional career.
In an interview with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes that was published on Friday, Bronny’s agent Rich Paul ruled out the possibility of the 19-year-old signing a two-way contract with a team.
“Yes, that’s absolutely true,” Paul said when asked about the reports that Bronny has no interest in a two-way deal. “Teams know that. I’m not doing that.”
The stance is not all that surprising. Paul is James’ agent, and his goal is to have Bronny on an NBA roster next season. A two-way contract would mean Bronny spends time in the G-League and the NBA, which might be the best thing for his development. But unless Paul knows for certain that there is not an NBA team that wants to roster Bronny, it would be unwise of him to admit that a two-way contract is on the table.
James has until May 29 to return to college. All signs point to him continuing down the NBA path, and he has been generating some interest from teams.
The most likely outcome is that Bronny winds up with the Lakers, even if he and his father have tried to downplay the importance of playing together. Bronny averaged just 4.8 points per game as a freshman at USC. There are concerns about his size and ability to turn into a legitimate NBA contributor, but the Lakers would almost certainly draft Bronny to make LeBron happy.
