Brooklyn can use a new scoring option. Can the Arizona freshman star Brayden Burries rise as one?
The Brooklyn Nets lacked a consistent third scoring option opposite of Michael Porter Jr. and Egor Demin.
Even when both players were out with injuries.
Brooklyn can certainly dip to the NBA Draft to find that extra scorer. NetsRoundtable already presented Cameron Boozer of Duke, Darius Acuff of Arkansas, Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Kingston Flemings of Houston as potential options.
But there's one more prized scoring option to look into: Brayden Burries of Arizona.
Floor Leader
This rises as the biggest strength to mention involving Burries.
He immediately established himself as a locker room and floor leader for a prestigious powerhouse. He emerged as the emotional leader as a freshman.
The young freshman is already well built for the game frame wise at 6-foot-4, 205-pounds. But he's got the vocal and lead-by-example part down pat too. Plus the hustle part as well:
Advanced Scorer
Burries continued to show how mature he is beyond his years with his shooting.
He knows when to become instinctive in attacking the rim. Yet also showed a knack for knowing when to pull up and shoot.
Burries shows a great feel for what the defense gives him and adjusts accordingly. He also took on high-pressure moments with no hesitation.
Pick-and-Roll Igniter
Burries rose as the go-to setup option when Arizona ran the pick-and-roll.
He displayed poise, strong passing timing, and could read what the defense was doing off the dribble during game.
Burries shows his most natural passing instincts during that play sequence.
Ball Handling
Turnovers rarely applies to Burries.
He committed an average of only 1.5 turnovers a night. Burries took great care of the basketball even in traffic. He'd pass as a running back running through a defensive line near the goal line with how skilled he took care of the ball.
Burries shows strong control while navigating through congestion on the floor.
Scoring Creativity
Burries can hit defenses with a variety of moves.
But his best attribute? A wicked and explosive first step that allows him to immediately gain separation off the dribble.
Spot-up shooting is his main strength. But again he won't hesitate to throw his body into the paint when he sees a scoring opportunity inside.
Disruptive Defender
Think of a towering ball-hawk on the gridiron.
He sharks the ball like a cornerback pursuing the pass. But he uses his cerebral side to jump on passing lanes and creating turnovers.
Half court defense is a big staple of Burries' game. He's an instinctive one on the floor.
Areas of Concern
He doesn't pass as a true point guard...because he rarely passes the rock.
Burries might need to settle for a combo guard role as he looks more comfortable as a shooter. The guard often turned to shooting more than passing, raising questions on if he'll share the basketball at a high level.
He also must show that he won't disappear in big games. The Michigan game saw Burries become a shell of himself. He struggled against nationally-ranked Texas Tech too in the regular season loss.
Are Nets a Fit?
Burries looks more like a bargain pickup in the event the Nets drop out of the top five.
That still looks unlikely, yet the draft lottery presents lots of unpredictability.
Burries wouldn't address the need for a true passing guard. Adding him creates pressure for Nolan Traore to sharpen his passing skills. But Burries can become a Jordi Fernandez and Sean Marks favorite off his smarts.
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