Michigan Basketball: How DJ Wilson will fit with the Milwaukee Bucks
With the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Michigan basketball’s DJ Wilson. How will he fit with his new team?
With great size for the power forward position thanks to a 6’10” frame and a 7’3″ wingspan, Michigan’s DJ Wilson fits right in with the Milwaukee theory of “team all-length.” Wilson’s playing style is very well-rounded, with his ability both to defend and to shoot the three as two of his primary skills.
In college, he bursted onto the scene this past season, playing 30.4 minutes per game, an increase from the 6.1 per game he played the year prior. In his minutes, he was able to drop 11.0 points per game, snag 5.3 rebounds per game, and even rise up for 1.5 blocks in each contest.
The most impressive thing about his numbers is his proficiency from behind the arc. There are not many players with the physical gifts of size and length that Wilson has being able to shoot 37.3% from the college three. Sure, this is not a terrific mark by any means, but it is solid and shows his potential as a stretch big, considering he attempted over 100 three-pointers on the season.
In addition to his shooting, Wilson projects well as a versatile defender, being able to defend both forward positions and centers. This defensive versatility makes sense with the way the Milwaukee Bucks are trending as a franchise. With lengthy wings Tony Snell (should be re-signed), Khris Middleton, and second round pick Sterling Brown, along with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and last year’s first round pick Thon Maker, this team is very accustomed to length.
As far as roster construction goes, DJ Wilson fills an important role right away. In the short term, he should see some consistent minutes right from the start of the season due to Jabari Parker still being out with an ACL injury until at least the All-Star Weekend. In the long term, he is a safety blanket for future injuries to Parker. In the future, Wilson will likely either be the back-up to Parker (a solid rotation player is not easy to come by outside of the lottery), or start if Parker does not return to his original form or continues to suffer injuries.
Next: How Sterling Brown fits with the Bucks
DJ Wilson was a slight reach to take at the 17th overall selection, but he fits the Bucks’ mold for a lengthy forward. Wilson is a short-term and long-term fit in Milwaukee and it will be fun to watch this late-blooming prospect make his mark in the NBA. Watch out for him to be a surprise rotation player quickly in his career.