Milwaukee Bucks: 5 former players still unsigned in 2021 NBA free agency
By Dalton Sell
Milwaukee Bucks: D.J. Wilson remains unsigned in 2021 NBA Free Agency
After taking D.J. Wilson with the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, it looked like the former Michigan Wolverine had the potential to succeed with the Bucks.
However, throughout his three-and-a-half seasons in Milwaukee, Wilson never quite panned out to be the player many pegged him to be. His minutes in the rotation were hardly ever consistent, tallying just 12.3 per game in 142 appearances in his career. To succeed, it was apparent that he would need a fresh start elsewhere on a team that would allow him to play. He got that when he was traded to the Houston Rockets last season in the P.J. Tucker deal.
In 23 games with Houston, Wilson put up career-highs in several categories and showed glimpses of potential that many hoped would surface in Milwaukee. He genuinely looked like an NBA player with the first big break in his career but did not receive a new contract from the Rockets after the season. Houston has embraced a full youth movement since trading James Harden last season, and Wilson seems to be a player that would fit their timeline. While he is 25-years-old, he would fit in with what they are trying to do, and getting a legitimate opportunity could help him find the success many envisioned when he first came into the NBA.