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Milwaukee Bucks: 2017 NBA Draft grades

By Josh Cornelissen

Mar 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) celebrates in the closing seconds of the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Conference Tournament championship game at Verizon Center. The Wolverines won 71-56. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) celebrates in the closing seconds of the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Conference Tournament championship game at Verizon Center. The Wolverines won 71-56. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 21, 2017; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) celebrates after he dunks in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) celebrates after he dunks in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Final grade

The Milwaukee Bucks go into the draft every year with a unified organizational philosophy, and every year they come out with players who fit that philosophy. No team is going to hit on 100 percent of their draft picks (even the Warriors missed on Nemanja Nedovic), but by sticking to their core plan, the Bucks hit more than they miss.

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That’s the confidence they can bring to the table after drafting D.J. Wilson and Sterling Brown Thursday night. Both players can shoot and have the length to be plus defenders. That means they will upgrade the team on offense and fit the scheme on defense. Again, the Bucks had a plan and they executed it.

That doesn’t mean they made perfect picks. Players such as Harry Giles or OG Anunoby were passed up at 17; despite injury concerns, both of those players have a higher talent ceiling than Wilson. In the second round the pickings were more slim, but would a guard such as Edmond Sumner or Monte Morris have been a better choice?

Those questions are impossible to answer this close to the draft, and it would be unfair to Milwaukee’s development staff to make definitive statements this early in the process. The Bucks have a history of growing players and empowering them to reach their potential, and if they do that with Wilson and Brown, they will have the contender they are striving for.

But as things stand in the hours immediately after the draft, the Bucks should be applauded for sticking to their philosophy, but not praised for executing draft coups. If both develop then they should form a solid forward pairing off the bench for Milwaukee, with Wilson’s ability to score inside offsetting Brown’s weakness at the rim, while Brown’s strong rebounding skills for his position help to offset Wilson’s relative weakness on the glass.

Next: 2017 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams

In the end it will be up to this coaching staff and the players themselves. For now, the Bucks had a good, if not perfect draft.

Grade: B+

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