Lakers insider points out dark side of Bronny James' NBA draft hullaballoo amid latest Rich Paul reports

Bronny James will know his destination in the NBA on Thursday. The LA Lakers, who pick at No. 55, look like strong candidates to land him, more so after former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers said on live TV that super agent Rich Paul is calling teams to tell them not to draft Bronny or he'll go play in Australia.

This report has raised some eyebrows around the NBA, and one Lakers insider pointed out that in the years and months leading to this day, Bronny James has never talked about his actual wishes. Much has been said about LeBron James' desire to play with him, but Bronny is yet to make a statement about what he wants.

"I'm gonna be honest, it's pretty sad to see a kid seem to have so little control over his own life. Yeah, he has some great opportunities in front of him as a result of those making decisions for him, but this has been a pretty rough watch from afar," Anthony Irwin tweeted.

When a fan said people were attacking Rich Paul for doing something that most other agents do, Irwin wrote that Bronny hasn't said anything about his future and everybody else has spoken on his behalf.

"This isn't about Rich Paul. This is about Bronny. It's all so contrived and we never get to hear from him whether it's something he actually wants," he tweeted.

Bronny James was one of the most talked about prospects heading to the draft. He wasn't a top 10 pick by any means (although he was No. 10 in an ESPN mock draft in 2023), but the prospect of playing with his father appeals to many people.

It's unclear if he wants that, too, but even if he does, Irwin and other people want to hear it from Bronny, not his father or agent.

Paul Pierce says Bronny James missing out on first night selection can help him

Boston Celtics legend-turned-analyst Paul Pierce believes that Bronny James not getting picked in the first round of the 2024 draft could help his competitiveness.

"That could build him up," Pierce said Thursday on "Undisputed." "That could ignite a fire in him. Not getting picked 17th could probably be the best thing for him. Not getting picked in the first round could probably be the best thing for him. ... Now me, if I didn't get picked first round, I'll be in the gym right after the draft."

Bronny James has the chance to make history alongside his father, but the way his draft selection has been handled can't be positive.