Christian Braun’s older brother committed to Kansas basketball yesterday. In what ways will he improve the Jayhawks in 2023-24?
Acquiring Hunter Dickinson in the transfer portal came at a hefty price for the Kansas Jayhawks. Zuby Ejiofor and Ernest Udeh Jr. transferred from the program, two big men KU envisioned would serve as vital contributors in the future.
The days of players sticking with a school and developing off the bench might be over, but programs can now find short-term resolutions in the transfer portal. Adding Parker Braun does just that.
It is not a move that prognosticators will gush over in preseason rankings, but adding Braun is an under-the-radar acquisition that should quietly help the Jayhawks in several ways.
These are three ways Parker Braun reinforces the depth of Kansas basketball.
1. Braun allows KJ Adams to move permanently to the four.
KJ started at center all of last season because the other guys fighting for a spot were not good enough yet. By adding a true backup big, KJ can move back to the four and expand his game further.
While he is not a lock to start at power forward — Kansas might add a stretch big in the portal — KJ can now play the role he was supposed to. Braun can take over some of the duties of guarding 7-footers and serving as the team’s backup center.
KJ can become even better this season with a hard work ethic. It would be a massive boon to Kansas if he can start nailing 14-18 foot mid-range jump shots, or at least hit some of them to make opposing teams respect him. That should allow the offensive spacing to improve tremendously so the Jayhawks do not clump up the paint with two bigs at all times.
2. He replaces Udeh in the sense that he can eat up minutes and keep Dickinson out of foul trouble.
When a team like Kansas has one of the best offensive big men in the nation, what will opponents try to do? Get him into foul trouble. There’s a good chance that Dickinson has to sub out before half because he has two or three fouls in some games. That’s where Braun comes in.
Anyone who watched games last season can tell you Ernest Udeh Jr. did not know how to foul. It seemed as though half of the ball screens he set were offensive fouls. But with Braun being a fifth-year player, he should be experienced enough to not foul as often.
In 29.3 minutes per game, Parker averaged 2.2 fouls in 2022-23. He might average more fouls because he will be playing limited minutes and being more aggressive on the defensive end. That’s totally fine, because Bill Self will have a 20/10 big playing in front of him and he will not be needed too often.
3. Braun is the perfect backup to a superstar center — he can be the spark plug off the bench, block a few shots, and hype up the crowd.
Braun might see his minutes cut in half now that he plays at Kansas. Perhaps even more. Because of this, he will need to make the most out of his opportunities.
The Santa Clara transfer brings a lot of experience to the table. He is a respectable shot blocker, an average defender, and terrific at scoring inside. When Dickinson needs a rest, Braun will come in and eat up minutes. He can grab boards or score a few points while the starter gets a breather.
Considering he is a part of the beloved Braun family, Braun will likely be applauded with cheers when he does something good. He will be a fan favorite in the Allen Fieldhouse. It will be exciting to see the impact he has on this Kansas roster.
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