Rich Paul confirmed that Bronny James has only been training separately for the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers at this point, and that this is part of the Klutch Sports strategy for his client.
“This is nothing new,” Paul said. “The goal is to find a team that values your person and pushes him or her to get there. It’s important to understand the context and realize that this has always been the strategy for many of our clients over the years, especially those in need. My stuff is “This is by design.”
Paul has previously provided his clients with pick preferences, including Talen Horton-Tucker to the Lakers in 2019 and Brandon Boston Jr. to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021.
“Bronny is just like my previous client,” Paul said. “We let teams know early on that if they were going to bring Bronny in, they needed to know this: If you don’t give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about. It’s hard to get real development going. A two-way deal.
“I don’t care if he goes to the Lakers or Phoenix or what number he gets drafted. It’s just a good fit.”
Paul added that the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors are interested in James.
“There are other teams that like Bronny,” Paul added. “For example, Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto. If it’s not the Lakers, it’s someone else. Minnesota wants to sign Broney, but I don’t know who the owner will be. [Mavs GM] Nico Harrison is like an uncle to Bronny. If the Lakers don’t get him at age 55, Dallas will get him at age 58 and give him a guaranteed deal. Masai [Ujiri, Raptors president], I love him. You can take the 31-year-old without even meeting him. “For these teams, exercise isn’t everything.”
James would have completed any exercise.
“It was all about the Lakers and Phoenix,” Paul said. “If someone calls me late, there might be some last-minute business. I’ll check.”
