NBA agent Rich Paul made it clear to teams before the draft that he wanted Bronny James to have a real NBA deal, not a two-way or non-guaranteed contract. This is a request that many agents of second-round picks make, but Paul had the leverage to make it happen. Thanks to his negotiation skills as reported by Shams Charania, Bronny will be getting a guaranteed deal with the Lakers.
Bronny, along with Lakers first-round pick Dalton Knecht, will be officially introduced as Lakers later on Tuesday. While some may criticize the move due to Bronny being LeBron James’ son, the reality is that nepotism is present in all aspects of sports and American life.
Although Bronny has a lot of potential, he still needs to work on developing his playmaking skills and improving his shot. Standing at 6’1”, he has good athleticism and high basketball IQ, but he will likely spend much of his rookie season and possibly the first two years in the G-League. This will give him time to develop his game away from the spotlight that often comes with being a high-profile second-round pick.
Bronny will face unique challenges due to his last name, but he has the security of a guaranteed deal and the opportunity to grow and improve as a player. He needs to put in the work to make most of this chance given to him by his agent and the Lakers organization.