No. 17 – D.J. Wilson
When John Hammond was the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, he targeted length and defensive upside with almost every pick he made. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the greatest example of this, but other recent draft picks include Thon Maker, Malcolm Brogdon and Rashad Vaughn.
With a new general manager in place, it was unclear whether the Bucks would continue with the same focus or present a new philosophy. One draft in, and it seems like it’s par for the course in Milwaukee. Carry on Team All-Length:
D.J. Wilson, a redshirt sophomore out of Michigan, was one of the longest prospects available when the Bucks made their first pick at 17. With a 7’3″ wingspan and a 9’1.5″ standing reach, Wilson has the frame Milwaukee covets in their young players.
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— Cream City Central (@CreamCityCtral) June 23, 2017
A wing in high school, Wilson went through a major growth spurt over the past few years to reach his current height of 6’10”. This meant Wilson transitioned into a role as a big for the Wolverines, but he brought his wing skill-set to the role. More than the average power forward or center, Wilson can put the ball on the floor or stroke it from deep.
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When Jabari Parker went down with his second torn ACL in three seasons, the lack of two-way bigs on the roster was revealed. Specifically at the 4, Parker’s replacements were either Mirza Teletovic — a stretch-4 with little defensive foot speed — or John Henson, a lengthy defender who cannot stretch the floor. Spencer Hawes, Michael Beasley — their options lacked two-way impact.
That is where Wilson comes in, as a high-upside backup to Parker and/or Thon Maker. If either fails to reach their potential, either from injury or development, Wilson could start one day for the Bucks as well. Although not a freshman, Wilson has only one year of high-level play at his position, leaving a vast range of upside ahead of him.
He is far from a sure thing, however, as his late rise up the draft board belies a lack of elite potential throughout his earlier days as a player. Wilson was a poor rebounder at Michigan, shying away from the contact-heavy duties of a big man such as crashing the glass and banging in the post. While his role as a stretch-4 will take him out to the perimeter, he needs to add toughness to fill the defensive role the Bucks will require of him.
Overall, Wilson fits the Milwaukee archetype, and their history of player development suggests they can get the best out of him. That being said, there were other prospects on the board with higher upside that could have increased the talent ceiling for this roster, so there is pressure on the organization to see Wilson reach his highest potential.
Grade: B