One pick after the Milwaukee Bucks selected Brayden Burries, the Golden State Warriors snagged Yaxel Lendeborg in this past draft. Of the two, Lendeborg has undeniably been the more impressive early this season, with the forward dominating. However, that doesn't mean the Bucks should have any regrets about Burries. His time will come. Lendeborg just has a head start.
Burries fits Bucks' timeline better
The biggest knock on Lendeborg was that he was an older prospect. He's currently 24. That's why it made perfect sense for him to land with Golden State. Nearing the end of the Stephen Curry dynasty, the Warriors are pushing all of their chips in to win now. They could afford to push aside any concerns about Lendeborg's age and how much room he has to grow because they need help now.
It's a strategy Milwaukee Bucks fans begged the franchise to take when Giannis Antetokounmpo was still in town—and one management strangely never embraced. If Giannis had stuck around this offseason, Lendeborg would have been a justifiable selection. He'd fit in perfectly alongside the Greek Freak and would have given the team a day-one contributor. Of course, that's fantasy now.
While it never hurts to have a good player, Lendeborg doesn't exactly fit with Milwaukee's timeline. This team is young and needs time to develop. It makes far more sense to take a 21-year-old who many regarded as the steal of the entire draft and see how he develops over the years. If the Bucks had taken Lendeborg, he could be nearing 30 by the time they finally figure things out.
Bucks are about to let Burries loose
Part of the reason Lendeborg looks so good is that the Warriors made him a crucial piece of their plans from day one. He is currently averaging the fourth-most minutes per contest among rookies. Burries, meanwhile, is down at 14th. Obviously, the guy playing considerably more minutes will look better, especially when he's far more polished and several years older.
Yet, it looks like Burries is about to earn the same trust. With Ryan Rollins struggling, Taylor Jenkins made the surprising move to pull him out of the starting five in favor of Burries in the team's loss to Minnesota. After logging 21 minutes in his previous game, he tallied 26 in this one. Jenkins is leaning on the guard more and more already, and that should continue.
In time, production should follow.
Sure, it would be great to have Lendeborg putting up incredible numbers right now, but the Milwaukee Bucks should be more than content with Brayden Burries. They can afford to be patient.
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