Milwaukee Bucks Roster Ranking 2017: D.J. Wilson Debuts at Number 8

We have reached the halfway point in our ranking and there’s no turning back now. The players that are featured from here on out will help the franchise make the leap in the coming season, while also help to sustain that leap in the years that follow. One of those players that will impact the future more than the present is the newly drafted forward out of the University of Michigan, D.J. Wilson.

What we know about how Wilson’s game will translate to the NBA comes from the five game Summer League season a couple months ago. While in Vegas, the Sacramento, California native averaged a touch under 12 points a game while playing an average of 25 minutes over that five game showcase. D-dot J-dot showed off his 3-point ability in spurts while capitalizing on 38.3% of his total field goal attempts. The knock that many noticed was Wilson’s lack of willingness to get physical in the post. His propensity to finesse close to the basket provided some aesthetically pleasing plays, but plays that were not necessarily the high basketball IQ play.

While in Ann Arbor, Wilson shot 83% from the charity stripe, but only on 60 attempts. The youngster needs to work on getting physical in the paint, but in the meantime, his ability to stretch the floor and be another position-less player in the lineup will help spark the team as he comes off the bench. I am cautiously optimistic in regards to Wilson’s potential; my caution is due to his willingness to default into finesse mode around the rim. Watching Michigan games this year, he would disappear for moments only to reappear on a fast-break or a nice transition play. I would put money on the Bucks developmental staff to turn him into a serviceable bench piece for the coming years.

Wilson is a project and the Bucks taking him with the 17th pick was considered a stretch by most involved in the draft process. If the team can find lightning in a bottle again, Wilson won’t find himself lower than 8 in our rankings, but if he turns into another 17th overall pick (Rashad Vaughn) this will be the highest he ranks.

Brew Hoop 2017-18 Roster Ranking

8. D.J. Wilson

9. Matthew Dellavedova

10. Sterling Brown

11. Mirza Teletovic

12. John Henson

13. Rashad Vaughn

14. Spencer Hawes

15. Gary Payton II