The Milwaukee Bucks disappointingly stayed put at No. 10 in the draft lottery, but they could still benefit from a stroke of luck. The dream scenario would be having the chance to select Arizona guard Brayden Burries, typically mocked just inside the top 10 picks. For the Bucks, it's hard to imagine a better fit than the two-way force who made a strong impression in his freshman season.
Burries is all-around contributor Bucks should prize in backcourt
Burries slipping to 10th overall is realistic enough. Say Atlanta really likes Michigan's Aday Mara, addressing their own hole at the center spot, and takes him at No. 8. With other guard prospects projected to go above Burries, he would fall right into Milwaukee's lap. Only one player outside the top 10 on your favorite expert's big board has to rise a spot on draft night to bump Burries down.
His numbers aren't crazy. At Arizona last season, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists - solid stats, but nothing mind-blowing. Burries did his work efficiently, however. He took only 11 shots per night on 49/39/80 splits. He is a multi-level scorer who improved his aggression at the rim. Despite a clunker in the Final Four loss to Michigan, Burries shot 51.7 percent on threes (5.8 attempts per game) in the NCAA tournament.Â
As opposed to a boom-or-bust candidate like Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr., Burries was also consistent. From December on, he failed to score in double figures only four times. He's not a true point guard, but Burries has plenty of room to grow as a facilitator. His low turnover rate (1.5 per game) is a good indicator of his sound decision-making. That's significant given that ball security was a major problem for Bucks guards last season.Â
Most notably, Burries offers offensive upside while standing out from other prospects, even those ranked ahead of him, due to his defense. His active hands and on-ball pressure created 1.5 steals per game, but more importantly, he brings the physicality and size the Bucks need at the position.Â
Burries could be 2026 draft's closest thing to future Jrue Hoiday
When Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. flashed their magic together last season, it was on the defensive end in particular, ranking near the top of the league in steals and deflections per game.Â
Burries doesn't have Rollins' length, but at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he has the edge in bulk and strength. He won't be pushed around by opposing guards. Not yet 21 years old, Burries still has time to mature physically. On both sides of the ball, he is reminiscent of former Bucks champion Jrue Holiday.Â
Like Holiday, Burries is a steady creator who can scale up his contributions as needed. He is a strong rebounder and dedicated defender. The comparison should have fans excited.Â
Burries' high NBA floor doesn't mean he has a low ceiling. On the contrary, he is cut out for an All-Star future with his two-way potential. The Bucks have found out the hard way that small guards are becoming more difficult to accommodate in today's game.Â
Cole Anthony didn't work out last season. Neither did Cam Thomas. Mark Sears fizzled out. The primary flaw for each of them was their defensive limitations. Even Damian Lillard held the Bucks back on that end of the floor in the two prior seasons. If they have other options, they should steer clear of that prototype in the draft.Â
Milwaukee needs to get back to that Holiday-like bulldog mentality in the backcourt. Pairing up Rollins and Burries would fit that vision quite nicely.Â
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