Brayden Burries scores team-high 18 points vs. MIA

Brayden Burries got into foul trouble early but showed early on that he’s going to be an impactful player. While minutes may not be super present early this season, he is the Bucks best building block on the roster at this moment. He was very productive in the minutes he was given and looks like he belongs on the court already.

Although he missed all four of his three-point attempts, Burries had a solid night overall in the Bucks’ preseason finale. It remains to be seen how much he’ll play once the regular season begins, as neither Gary Trent Jr. nor Caris LeVert was available for Friday’s game. However, with the Bucks rebuilding after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, one would assume the team will prioritize giving Burries opportunities this season.

Burries made his first start of the preseason on Wednesday. He struggled from deep, making one of six attempts, but a perfect night at the foul line boosted the rookie’s point total. With the number of guards on the Bucks’ roster, Burries may struggle to get rotation minutes early on. However, the franchise is invested in him, which likely means more playing time in the second half of the season if Milwaukee isn’t in contention for a postseason spot.

The Bucks did not play multiple veteran guards, including Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. on Wednesday. As a result, experienced an uptick in playing time after logging 16 minutes in his preseason debut against the Timberwolves. The lottery pick out of Arizona missed all four of his three-point attempts, but he was active defensively and shot over 50 percent from two. Given the number of guards on the Bucks’ roster, Burries may not offer much value in redraft leagues early on. However, as the Eastern Conference gets stronger and the Bucks no longer have Giannis Antetokounmpo, the rookie’s value could increase later in the season.

While Porter was a surprisingly valuable player for fantasy managers last season, he played only 38 games before being shut down in late March. The good news is that Porter will go into training camp at full strength. However, with Milwaukee adding multiple guards to their roster, including Tyler Herro and lottery pick Brayden Burries, KPJ’s fantasy ceiling likely took a hit. He should be drafted, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo no longer in the fold, but managers will need to keep their expectations for Porter in check.

While he missed all four of his three-point attempts, Burries finished his summer with another excellent showing. The tenth overall pick in last month’s draft was Milwaukee’s best player in Las Vegas and has the look of a player who should compete for rotation minutes immediately. Whether he was on the ball or off it, Burries made things happen offensively, and his defense was solid as well. With the Bucks paying Gary Trent Jr. $64 million and adding Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakučionis in the Giannis trade while also having Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, the backcourt projects to be crowded next season. However, good luck keeping Burries off the floor, given how well he played this summer.

Playing against college teammate Koa Peat for the first time as pros, Burries recorded his second 20-point game in as many nights. The former Arizona guard was efficient as a scorer and playmaker, committing just one turnover. If there was an issue for Burries, it was that he went 3-of-7 from the foul line, but that was not an issue for him at the college level. His play in Las Vegas has been encouraging for both the Bucks and fantasy managers considering Burries in their drafts. Milwaukee’s perimeter logjam may make it challenging for Burries to log heavy minutes as a rookie, but getting into the rotation is certainly a reasonable expectation.

After sitting out the Bucks’ first two games at the California Classic, Burries played his first meaningful basketball since the Final Four in April on Monday. He’s a better shooter than he showed against the Kings, but that can be attributed to rust. Burries will get more opportunities to show what he can do in Las Vegas, starting with the Heat on July 10. Along with fellow first-round pick Nate Ament, who did not play in California, Burries should have every opportunity to earn rotation minutes as a rookie.

A five-star recruit, the 6-foot-4 Burries spent one season at Arizona before turning pro. As part of a team that took the Wildcats to the Final Four for the first time since 2001, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.8 three-pointers while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three and 80.5 percent from the foul line. A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Burries is an effective scorer on all three levels and defends his position well. In addition to his scoring ability, he is an excellent perimeter defender. With Milwaukee embarking on a new era after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, he will be a key building block for the franchise.