Milwaukee Bucks: 5 reasons D.J. Wilson was a bad pick
1. Better value available with the pick
Milwaukee has put together a successful stretch of draft picks by targeting not for fit, but value. They have gone for the players with the highest upside and the best path to reaching that upside. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the shining example of that draft strategy, but Jabari Parker, Thon Maker and Brandon Jennings all fit the profile as well.
While D.J. Wilson has upside, there was better value available with the 17th pick. By taking the Michigan forward they took a gamble, but there were gambles on the board with both loftier ceilings and higher floors.
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OG Anunoby is discussed as the “sexy blogger pick” because of his popularity among online basketball outlets. While it was clear NBA teams didn’t value him as highly as draft pundits, he is an athletic freak with the defensive versatility to guard 1-5. If he can develop an offensive game he could be one of the most valuable picks in the draft.
John Collins is a hard prospect to nail down, as his game is a hybrid between an old school post behemoth and an athletic stretch big. But for now his elite college production and highlight-reel Summer League play have brightened his future.
Harry Giles may have been the most polarizing player in the draft. The former No. 1 prospect in his class, multiple knee surgeries have his future in doubt. But for a Milwaukee team confident in its medical staff and willing to swing for the fences, Giles was the perfect pick. If he comes back fully healthy — a realistic “if” — he could be a top-five talent in this draft and might have been a coup for the Bucks at No. 17.
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It’s easy to point fingers from the outside, and only a decade of time passing will tell us for sure how Milwaukee did on draft night. But for now, it looks like their selection of D.J. Wilson was a bad pick.