The hype surrounding Milwaukee Bucks combo guard Brayden Burries has him firmly wedged among the most exciting rookies in this entire class. Yet despite the deserved hype, there are concerns about him, as there are with all first-year players. Particularly, NBA.com states that for Burries to live up to lofty comparisons like Jrue Holiday, the guard will have to take strides as a lead playmaker.
Well, with the team's assortment of talented ball-handlers, Burries' growth in that regard will likely be put on hold for the time being.
Bucks' depth puts Burries in a tough spot
As discussed constantly this summer, Milwaukee's roster is loaded at the guard spot. Between Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Kevin Porter Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis, this team has no shortage of talented ball-handlers ahead of Burries in terms of experience. Those players will be the ones taking control of the playmaking duties most of the time, while Burries will be in an off-ball role.
Only making matters worse is that several of these players are in line for new deals next offseason. Rollins, Herro, and Porter can all hit the free agent pool next summer, and you bet they will be on the hunt for a long-term contract. To put themselves in the best position for it, they will aim to capitalize on as many opportunities as they can as lead ball-handlers.
With that, Burries will likely not see too much on-ball action, at least right away.
Burries must wait his turn and develop
Milwaukee's guard jam won't stay clogged forever. Next summer, one or two of the aforementioned ball-handlers will likely depart. That's when Burries could earn a promotion and aim to silence those questioning his abilities as a lead playmaker. After spending a year learning from more experienced players like Herro, Rollins, and Porter, Burries will be more polished than he is as a rookie.
For now, Burries will likely slot in as an off-ball two-way threat most nights. With versatility being one of his best attributes, Burries can play alongside anyone on the floor. His sweet shooting will be very useful, and he should get plenty of open looks. Defensively, he can take pressure off the other guards by accepting the most difficult matchup.
Patience is everything here. Sure, Burries (and Bucks fans) would likely love for him to run headfirst into a prominent role next season. However, all signs point to the team taking it slow with their prized rookie, and it could set him up for a bright future. The question marks about his lead playmaking will persist for now, but in due time, the star guard will be well-prepared to crush them.
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