Arizona’s physical scoring machine offers a seamless backcourt fit for Cooper Flagg. Dallas must decide if his consistent production outweighs concerns regarding his lack of elite athleticism.
DALLAS - It occurs to me that when we start discussing the "ceiling'' of an NBA Draft prospect who is 20 years old and who just finished his freshman year ...
Maybe we are guilty of "paralysis via overanalysis.''
The player in question here - and the player on the Dallas Mavs' draft radar here - is Brayden Burries.
Burries experienced a breakout freshman season with the Wildcats, leading Arizona to the Final Four as their primary scorer. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 49.1% from the field and 39.1% from three.
He was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and one of the more consistent performers in a loaded freshman class.
Should I say it again? At age 20, he was the star of a Final Four team and a first-team all-conference honoree.
The scouting report on him overall?
He plays with a physical, attacking style. That's good.
But, it is said, he does so without being able to "rely on elite athleticism.'' That sounds ... not good.
Are the concerns about a 6-foot-4 scorer without elite athleticism worthy of being debated?
I don't mean to dismiss that.
But as one of the guys projected to be available in late June when Dallas picks at No. 9, I really want to know two simple things:
One, can he play?
And two, can he play in a way the benefits young Dallas star Cooper Flagg?
Flagg needs a backcourt partner who can get him the ball; Dallas has that in Kyrie Irving.
After that? In search of a "rotational player'' at No. 9, Dallas could also use a backcourt guy who can shoot and maybe even defend.
Burries can be that guy, and his willingness to operate off the ball makes him a natural complement to a player who touches it as much as Flagg.
What's his "ceiling''? What's his "upside''? Factor that in, sure.
But let's don't overdo it. If Brayden Burries is a player worth a top-nine pick, and if he's deemed a Flagg fit?
That's analysis enough for me.
