First Call: Despite hopes from Duquesne fans, Bronny James reportedly staying in NBA Draft; new Courtland Sutton trade talk

Tuesday’s “First Call” suggests a potential target for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL trade pool may not be out of play just yet.

It doesn’t appear that LeBron James’ son will be going to Duquesne after all. An ex-Penguin comes up big in the NHL playoffs.

And Monday marked the anniversary of a memorable win in Penguins history.

No Bronny on the Bluff?

It doesn’t look like LeBron James’ son is coming to Duquesne.

According to reports from ESPN.com, Bronny James is planning to stick in the NBA Draft after receiving full NBA medical clearance.

Sources: Bronny James is expected to stay in the 2024 NBA Draft. The USC freshman has been fully cleared to play in the league as part of Fitness to Play panel and will participate in all pre-draft activities starting with the Draft Combine this week. pic.twitter.com/UDf3HanCAS

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 13, 2024

James had a procedure to repair a congenital heart defect nine months ago following a cardiac episode at USC. However, the NBA’s Fitness to Play panel has medically cleared James to be drafted and play in the league.

At the NBA Combine, James is opening eyes already.

Bronny just went a full minute and 15 seconds without missing in movement shooting drill, which is also a test for conditioning, shooting when tired. Impressive stuff here pic.twitter.com/SD6p95cK07

— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) May 14, 2024

Many thought that James might pull his name back from the draft and transfer from USC to Duquesne after entering the portal following his freshman season since the Dukes hired Dru Joyce III as the head coach to replace the retiring Keith Dambrot. Joyce is a former high school teammate and long-time friend of James’ father.

But this move would make more sense for Bronny. His father’s stated goal is to figure out a way for the two of them to play together. After averaging just 4.8 points as a freshman at USC, James is unlikely to be drafted until the Lakers come around with pick No. 55 in the second round.

At best.

And if he isn’t drafted, Los Angeles can just sign him and stash him in the G-League until he’s ready to play however many games LeBron wants him to play next year.

Or, another team could draft Bronny and use him as a way to lure his dad there via free agency if he opts out of his final year with the Lakers.

However it plays out, there isn’t much to be gained by James to go to Duquesne, Ohio State or any of the other schools that had been rumored as potential destinations if he decided to stick with college basketball.

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Not dead yet

The Courtland Sutton trade talk isn’t entirely on the back burner just yet.

The Denver Broncos wide receiver was the subject of Steelers trade rumors in advance of the NFL Draft. But those seemed to be quelled after the NFL selection process.

However, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson reignited the conversation Monday when he wrote, “It’s now uncertain how the Broncos will handle the future of Sutton, a wide receiver who reportedly wants a new contract and who has not been at voluntary offseason workouts since they began April 15. … It remains to be seen what will happen with Sutton, who has just $2 million of his $13 million contract guaranteed for 2024 and could be a candidate to be traded.”

Tomasson added that the franchise has improved its wide receiving corps by signing free agent Josh Reynolds and drafting Oregon’s Troy Franklin and Utah’s Devaughn Vele. Those additions could make Sutton more expendable.

As of now, the Steelers do not have a clear-cut No. 2 wide receiver opposite George Pickens. Sutton is certainly capable of filling that role if Denver would be willing to swing a trade.

Jumpin’ Jordan

Former Penguin Jordan Staal helped the Carolina Hurricanes stay alive in their playoff series with the New York Rangers on Monday night in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.

Staal used his signature pterodactyl reach to slip this puck past New York goalie Igor Shesterkin.

JORDAN STAAL, HOW DO YOU DO?! ????‍???? #StanleyCup

????????: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
????????: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/iHVyRtO91L

— NHL (@NHL) May 14, 2024

That goal was Staal’s first of this postseason. It helped Carolina win on the road 4-1.

The series now shifts back to Raleigh on Thursday with the Hurricanes still down 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Happy FLEURYversary

There were plenty of memorable wins for the Penguins en route to their 2009 Stanley Cup. One of them was the Game 7 victory over the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The 15th anniversary of that game was Monday. So, let’s take a moment to remember Marc-Andre Fleury’s crucial breakaway save against Alexander Ovechkin early in that contest.

That kept the game tied with 17 minutes to go in the first period. Fleury would only have to make 19 saves on the night, Sidney Crosby scored twice, and the Pens won 6-2 to close out the series.

They would then go on to sweep the Carolina Hurricanes and win the Stanley Cup Final in seven games over the Detroit Red Wings to claim Pittsburgh’s third NHL championship.

Fleury made a somewhat memorable save in that Game 7 as well.

Now with the Minnesota Wild, Fleury recently announced that the 2024-25 season will be his last before retirement. It’ll be his 21st campaign in the NHL.