Milwaukee Bucks: 5 musts for D.J. Wilson in crucial season

D.J. Wilson is entering a contract year for the Milwaukee Bucks. This season will determine if they keep him on the roster or decide to move on.

Analysts on every major network applauded the trade. Acquiring a versatile sharpshooter capable of playing either wing position was considered by all to be a wise decision. The 6’6″ shooting guard had been named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second team in 2018 and his upward trajectory looked promising. Adding him to a team that already featured two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and perennial All-Star in Khris Middleton looked like the perfect fit. And then, the trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic came to a screeching halt.

It turns out, the leak was premature. Someone in the Milwaukee Bucks organization let the cat out of the bag before securing a commitment from Bogdanovic to sign an extension with the team. Once he made his intentions to explore free agency clear, the promise of securing the 28-year-old’s services were gone and so was the deal. As a result, D.J. Wilson, Donte DiVincenzo and Ersan Ilyasova remained in Milwaukee instead of moving on to the Sacramento Kings.

D.J. Wilson is entering his fourth season in the NBA. The team he’s spent his entire professional career with just tried to deal him away in an effort to upgrade their roster. He’s also entering a contract year.

As he plays out the last season of his rookie deal, he’ll be simultaneously trying to convince Milwaukee’s front office he’s an integral part of the team’s future while also auditioning for the rest of the league. The 2021 season will be a major turning point for Wilson. Here are the steps he must take to convince the Bucks organization they should keep him around.