For years, the Milwaukee Bucks could survive their draft misses because Giannis Antetokounmpo covered for a lot of the damage. That safety net is gone now, and with it comes a much harsher standard: when the Bucks are on the clock, they have to get it right.
That is why Brayden Burries and Nate Ament matter so much. Selected 10th and 13th, they represent Milwaukee’s best chance in a long time to land real value at the top of the board.
The Bucks have spent the better part of the last decade picking in the late teens or mid-20s, where finding a difference-maker is tougher. This time, the team has a better shot at hitting - and a bigger spotlight on the outcome.
The pressure on those two picks is obvious. Burries and Ament are not just prospects with upside; they are potential turning points.
If they become meaningful contributors sooner rather than later, Milwaukee can start to believe it has finally shaken off the draft struggles that have dogged the franchise through the Giannis era. If they don’t, the same old problems will follow the Bucks into a new chapter.
There is at least one reason for optimism. Taylor Jenkins arrives as a coach who is much more aligned with player development than Mike Budenholzer and Doc Rivers were, and that matters when a team is trying to build through young talent.
The Bucks also don’t have the luxury they once did of leaning on a superstar to smooth over roster mistakes. No matter how large a leap Tyler Herro might make, he is not Giannis. Milwaukee’s path forward depends on squeezing value out of every draft chance it gets, wherever those picks land.
And that’s the real challenge in this next era. The Bucks do not fully control their picks over the coming years, which only makes the margins tighter.
When they are on the clock, they need contributors who can grow into long-term pieces. If the draft problems keep showing up, Milwaukee’s life gets even harder.
Brayden Burries and Nate Ament are the first picks of this new chapter. Now it’s on them to set the tone.
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Bucks Rookie Brayden Burries Is Already Stirring A Dream Comparison
Brayden Burries is only getting started in Milwaukee, but the Bucks already have reasons to pay attention. The rookies defensive versatility, size and offensive potential have prompted some early comparisons to Jrue Holiday, the kind of player every contender would love to uncover again in a younger package. It is still early, of course, and Burries has a long climb ahead before anyone can seriously put him in that class.
Even so, the appeal is obvious from the Bucks point of view. If Burries develops along the trajectory those traits suggest, he could grow into a meaningful two-way piece over time and eventually fill a role that looks a lot like the one Holiday once played for Milwaukee. For now, the buzz is more about possibility than certainty, but it is the sort of possibility that can keep a franchise interested. [Read more 🡒]