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Report: Suns to work out Bronny James

© Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns will work out Bronny James, son of LeBron James, ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

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Charania reports “Phoenix has the No. 22 pick and James is among several players in consideration. James has over 10 workout invitations but is expected to only visit a few teams, including the Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA Draft takes place June 26-27.”

James is ranked as the 54th best prospect in the draft by ESPN out of 100 players.

Despite only averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 36.6/26.7/67.6 shooting splits in his lone season at USC last year, there have been arguments for years about drafting James when he became eligible, as LeBron has said multiple times that he wants to play with his son. The 39-year-old LeBron has a June 29 deadline for his $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

Because the Suns are operating over the second-tax apron, Phoenix would only be able to sign LeBron to a veteran minimum deal when free agency rolls around on June 30.

Prior to his freshman season at USC, Bronny was ranked as a four-star prospect out of Sierra Canyon. However, he collapsed in practice last July, and it was later found out that he suffered cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect.

After undergoing a heart procedure and going through recovery from it, James made his debut for the Trojans on Dec. 10. He ended up playing 25 games for USC, starting six of them. His best statistical performance came in a 82-67 loss at the Arizona Wildcats on Jan. 17, where he played a season-high 30 minutes and recorded 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting, six assists and five rebounds.

At the combine last week, James measured in at 6-foot-1.5 without shoes and 210 pounds. He has a 6-foot-7.25 wingspan and recorded a 40.5-inch vertical leap, which was the fourth highest among combine participants.

After grabbing even more attention by going 19-of-25 in a shooting drill, James then participated in two scrimmages over the following days.

In the first one, he scored four points on 2-of-8 shooting, had four rebounds two steals and three turnovers.

During the second scrimmage, James notched 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting.

The Suns are able to trade this year’s No. 22 pick and also gain the ability to trade their 2031 first-round pick on day of the first round of the NBA Draft (June 26).

There are a lot of rumors that Phoenix might shop both of these picks, especially after this quote from owner Mat Ishbia a few weeks ago.

“If fans like to look in the future and say, ‘Hey, I really like that 2031 draft pick, because maybe that seventh-grader is gonna be really good and we’re gonna draft them and one day he’s gonna be a player,’ you ain’t going to like the Phoenix Suns,” Ishbia said. “Because we’re gonna say, ‘Draft picks are to get great players.’”

With the Suns introducing their G League team on Wednesday, James could bring a lot of eyes to that as well as a slight chance of bringing LeBron to Phoenix.

Would you want to see the Suns take a flier on James with the No. 22 pick?

Mike Budenholzer, James Jones spotted at NBA draft combine

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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

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