Amid Massive Lawsuit, Rich Paul’s Power Move for Bronny James Could Sabotage Celtics & Warriors’ ‘Ransom’ Demand

As the NBA Draft season approaches its conclusion, super-agent Rich Paul is unfazed by the $1.4 billion lawsuit that hangs over his head. For now, he has bigger problems at hand. Tonight, all eyes are on his client, LeBron James‘ son Bronny James, as he potentially kickstarts his NBA career.

The stakes are high. Lebron has made no secret of his wishes to play alongside his son before he retires. The LA Lakers are doing everything in their power to acquire Bronny to retain LeBron before he enters free agency. Other NBA teams might use the opportunity of acquiring Bronny to leverage him as a bargaining chip to entice Bron. The Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors have their eyes on Bronny but Rich Paul does not plan on making it easy for any team.

ESPN analyst Tim Legler is confident that the Boston Celtics will “kidnap” Bronny to lure his dad out. The Celtics own the #54 pick, very close to the Lakers’ #55 pick. “54th pick. We renew the Cold War between the Celtics and the Lakers. The Boston Celtics take Bronny James and send a ransom note to the Lakers, ‘We have your son. We have your son. If you want him back… If you want him back, it’s gonna take Austin Reaves,'” Legler said.

The ‘95.7 The Game’s’ host Steiny felt that the Warriors would adopt a similar method. However, according to a recent report by Shams Charania, LeBron’s long-time agent and friend, Paul, is expected to make calls to teams advising them against moving for Bronny. This move might be a preventative measure to clear the Lakers’ path toward acquiring the superstar’s son.

The Lakers are desperate to get Bronny. If they wish to keep their roster intact, they need to keep their superstar happy. After having landed Dalton Knecht with their #17 pick in the first round, they are now left with their #55 pick in the second round. But what’s in store for young James?

Bronny James’ predictions before second round results

After listing him as undrafted a few months ago, ESPN’s final mock draft predicted that the Lakers would land Bronny James in the second round through their 55th pick. The Phoenix Suns is another team that has also reportedly shown interest in the player. If the star does not land in LA, Boston, and Phoenix might be some possible destinations to consider.

And despite what analysts claim, Rich Paul wishes for Bronny to end up where his talent is best recognized. Paul told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, “Bronny is the same as my previous clients. I got the word out early to teams that if you plan on bringing Bronny in, here’s what you need to know: If you won’t give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about. It’s hard to get real development on a two-way deal. I don’t care about him going to the Lakers, or Phoenix, or about what number he gets picked. It’s about fit.”

If this is true, the possibilities are endless. Should the Celtics or Warriors select Bronny and utilize him as leverage, the Lakers might find themselves in a challenging situation where they have to give up valuable assets to keep LeBron in Los Angeles.

It remains to be seen if the Lakers can successfully negotiate these rough waters and emerge with Bronny by their side, but one thing is for sure, the stakes have never been higher.

Now that you’re here, check out what Shaq’s former manager said about Shaq vs Kobe.