One of the most fascinating prospects in college basketball has been monitored by the Toronto Raptors.
According to Shams Charania on the Pat McAfee show, the club is one of the several organizations who have scouted Bronny James ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft. The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers are among the other clubs that have looked into James, who may declare for the draft this year, along with “plenty of teams.”
The 6-foot-4 James, who is a freshman at USC, is LeBron James’s eldest son. Though he was formerly thought to be one of the draft’s best prospects, the 19-year-old experienced a congenital cardiac defect-related cardiac arrest in July, and he has only appeared in 17 games this season, averaging only 5.9 points per game.
LeBron James has expressed on numerous occasions that he hopes to play with his son in the future, which may encourage a team to select him first overall. Bronny James, who isn’t currently regarded as a top prospect, is much more intriguing now that he might declare for the draft this year.
This summer, Toronto won’t likely have much cap space to really pursue LeBron James, should he opt out of his contract with the Lakers. If the Raptors sign Kelly Olynyk to an extension and give up the rights to Bruce Brown Jr. and Gary Trent Jr., they could theoretically make nearly $30 million. More room might be made available by a cost-cutting move involving Chris Boucher or Jalen McDaniels, but it’s unlikely that Toronto would free up its maximum contract this summer. The Raptors will be able to retain their own pick if it falls in the top six in the draft this year, and they will have at least two picks overall.