The Milwaukee Bucks took Michigan forward D.J. Wilson with the 17th pick in the NBA Draft. Why was this a poor use of the pick?
After making the playoffs in an unexpectedly successful year, the Milwaukee Bucks found themselves picking just outside of the lottery in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. While a number of players were rumored to be in consideration, the Bucks ultimately selected D.J. Wilson with the 17th overall pick.
Wilson introduced himself to the national consciousness during the Michigan Wolverine’s surprise run to the Sweet 16 in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. He kept the Michigan offense juiced when the guards struggled to score, and defensively covered for the weaknesses of those around him. For three games on the national stage, he was dynamic.
He joins a team that has its sights set on growth, and a finish that sets it back even further in the draft. With a franchise superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks don’t expect to be in the lottery again anytime soon. That meant that this draft was a key one for getting the best talent at the highest pick.
Was D.J. Wilson the right pick for the Bucks? Was he worthy of the 17th overall pick? And finally, was there better value available that Milwaukee passes on?
The answer is unequivocally no to the first question. Wilson was not the right pick at 17th, especially based on the information we have now. While he may turn into a solid player down the road, the lowest risk and highest reward seem to be with other players.
Why was D.J. Wilson the wrong pick for the Milwaukee Bucks? Here are five reasons the Bucks made a mistake.