Bronny James to Celtics in ESPN 2024 NBA Mock Draft amid Lakers, LeBron James Rumors | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

NBA analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo predict that the Boston Celtics will use the No. 54 pick to select Bronny James in their latest 2024 NBA Mock Draft for ESPN.

The Celtics acquired the second-round pick, originally held by the Sacramento Kings, in a three-team trade with the Dallas Mavericks last summer.

James is not projected as a draft pick in the latest mock from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, but rumors that his destination could influence his father LeBron James' free agency decision could change his draft stock.

His draft stock may have also been improved by his performance at the 2024 NBA Scouting Combine. After ranking among the top four combine prospects with a 40.5-inch vertical leap, James shot 19-for-25 on the three-point star drill and showed off his playmaking skills by working as a distributor during scrimmages.

Those factors could influence teams to draft James despite the relatively small sample size of play following his college debut, which was delayed when he suffered cardiac arrest and underwent heart surgery before his freshman season at USC.

James returned to the court in December to make 25 appearances and six starts with the Trojans.

He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes per night, while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 26.7 from deep.

James also entered the NCAA transfer portal and has so far left open the possibility that he will return for a sophomore season. He has until May 29 to decide whether to keep his name in the draft.

If the Celtics are interested in adding James, the addition could provide him an opportunity to learn from veterans he admires. James has previously named Celtics guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday as players he wants to model his game after, per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.

After averaging 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks per game during his freshman college season, James will need to develop his two-way game to become a defensive stalwart like White or Holiday. The Celtics have the guard depth to provide that opportunity if they decide to take a swing at James with their second-round pick.