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Bronny James will stay in 2024 NBA draft, agent Rich Paul tells ESPN

Bronny James is staying in the 2024 NBA draft.

The deadline for underclassmen to remove themselves from the draft is tonight at 11:59. But according to his agent Rich Paul, James will remain in the draft.

"He's a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth," Paul told ESPN. "It only takes one team. I don't care where that team is -- it can be No. 1 or 58 -- [but] I do care about the plan, the development. The team's strategy, the opportunity and the financial commitment. That's why I'm not doing a two-way deal."

Two-way deals allow NBA teams to send players down to the G League, and it limits how many days they can play in the NBA. Emoni Bates is on a two-way deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, for instance.

The draft stock of the 19-year-old James has been all over the place. He's coming off a freshman season at USC where he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 25 games played.

He was medically cleared by the NBA earlier this month after a heart issue caused him to miss time with the Trojans.

Of course there is the long-standing rumor that his father, LeBron James, wants to play with his son. A rumor that has been backtracked a little bit recently.

"My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and of course, you know, get to the NBA," Bronny told reporters at the NBA combine. "I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course he’s, he’s brought it up a couple times. But yeah, I don’t think about it."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Rich Paul says Bronny James is in the 2024 NBA draft