With the Milwaukee Bucks' rumored interest in Bennedict Mathurin lingering, fans were worried about Brayden Burries. After the rookie showed flashes during Summer League, everyone wants to see him on the court as much as possible, and another guard could hinder that. Yet, it sounds like the former Indiana Pacer is not on Milwaukee's priority list of targets right now, per NBA insider Jake Fischer.
When asked on his Bleacher Report livestream whether the Bucks were still chasing Mathurin and Jonathan Kuminga, Fischer downplayed Milwaukee's interest.
"I don't think that Milwaukee is primarily factoring into those two guys' respective situations right now."
Door is still open for Burries to earn a role
The Bucks' backcourt has been a prominent storyline since the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, as the team has more than enough bodies at that spot. It already feels like Brayden Burries will have to claw his way into significant playing time; adding a big fish like Mathurin would have only made it harder for him to earn that time, possibly making him a depth piece in his rookie year.
Given the potential he possesses, that would have been tough to stomach. Now, though, he will have a golden opportunity to prove he belongs. While Tyler Herro starting feels like a given due to his huge salary, all bets are off elsewhere. Coach Taylor Jenkins will craft his rotations as he sees fit, and there will be a window of opportunity for Burries to showcase his skills in camp and the preseason.
If he impresses, Burries could absolutely leapfrog some of the projected rotational players, especially without another obstacle like Mathurin in town.
Backcourt remains full of question marks
As mentioned, even without Mathurin, the Milwaukee Bucks are loaded at guard. Burries, Herro, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., AJ Green, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Caris LeVert are all on the payroll and likely expecting time this season. Even if the Bucks part ways with two of them amid their roster crunch, that's still a lot of mouths to feed.
No matter who fits where, Burries should firmly be in the rotation this season. While he's just a rookie, the guard showed undeniable flashes of potential in the Summer League. He looks like he could be a two-way standout from day one next season. For a team looking for its next franchise centerpiece, the Bucks need to get their prized rookie on the floor as much as possible.
By being a non-factor in Bennedict Mathurin sign-and-trade discussions, they are setting themselves up further to achieve that goal.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
Add us as a preferred source on Google