The Milwaukee Bucks selected D.J. Wilson with the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, a move that had potential written all over it.
Wilson looked like a solid player coming out of Michigan and could hypothetically play behind Giannis Antetokounmpo in the frontcourt rotation. However, Wilson never quite carved out a steady role for himself with the team over his three and a half years. Averaging 11.9 minutes during his 119 regular season appearances with the team, the forward was primarily sidelined throughout his tenure.
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Ultimately, the team would trade Wilson to the Houston Rockets in the renowned P.J. Tucker deal from last season, where he would get a chance to receive steady minutes. Even then, the 25-year-old went unsigned in the offseason and is currently a free agent at the time of this writing.
The Bucks would certainly reconsider their selection if they were given the chance as there were several household names to go after Wilson in that draft class. With that being said, here are five options for the Bucks in a 2017 redraft.
No. 5 option for Milwaukee Bucks in 2017 NBA Draft — Josh Hart
With the final pick of the first round, the Utah Jazz selected Josh Hart, who was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Looking at his progression as a player since being drafted, it would have been compelling to see how Hart might have panned out with the Bucks.
Throughout his first four seasons in the league, the swingman has carved out a place for himself as a swiss army knife. Whether it be scoring, rebounding, or stellar defense, Hart has done it all at a high level. For his career thus far, the Villanova product has averaged 8.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. He is currently a member of the New Orleans Pelicans and looks to be a key piece of their future after inking a nice contract extension with them this past offseason.
Hart’s willingness to do the dirty work would have made him a solid fit with the Bucks. Looking at the current iteration of the Bucks, there may have been some overlap in the primary rotation with Pat Connaughton and Donte DiVincenzo – who was Hart’s teammate at Villanova and selected by the Bucks one year later – but he would have been a great addition to their wing depth.
No. 4 option for Milwaukee Bucks in 2017 NBA Draft — Kyle Kuzma
Sticking with the Lakers, Kyle Kuzma was also traded there on draft night after being taken with the 27th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets. If the Bucks were interested in bolstering their forward rotation, Kuzma would have been a better option than Wilson.
Kuzma’s first four years in Los Angeles have certainly produced mixed results. During his first two years, the forward showed signs of star potential, showing a knack for scoring and rebounding the basketball at a high level. However, when the Lakers traded for big man Anthony Davis, Kuzma’s minutes regressed mightily, and while he was still playing a valuable role for the team, it was far less than what he had been throughout his first two seasons, which made his numbers decrease.
Averaging 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game is still a solid line for the four-year man, and he would have been solid with the Bucks. Backing up Antetokounmo, Kuzma could have given the team a much-needed boost in the second unit to shore up their scoring efforts. His fit with the current roster is certainly questionable, but it would have made sense at the time of the pick to bring him in. Instead, he will hit the stage with the Washington Wizards next season after being traded there in the offseason in the Russell Westbrook trade.
No. 3 option for Milwaukee Bucks in 2017 NBA Draft — Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks was far from the most decorated player coming out of Oregon, which prompted him to fall to the 46th overall pick. Seeing how he has developed in his first four seasons, the Bucks would certainly give him consideration with their 17th selection.
What stands out the most with Brooks is his tenacious defense, having quietly turned into one of the better young defenders in the league. The guard has future All-Defensive potential written all over him, and he could be a staple in the conversation for years to come. He has already shown an ability to guard some of the top stars in the game today. According to NBA.com/stats, Brooks was sensational against several recognizable names this past season, letting Damian Lillard score just 27 points on 9-of-24 shooting in three games and surrendering 10 points to Antetokounmpo on 4-of-11 shooting in two games. Those are just two players, but the list goes on and on.
For a team that is built off their defense like the Bucks, Brooks would have fit in like a glove under head coach Mike Budenholzer. The lineups consisting of Antetokounmpo, Brooks, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez would be formidable on that side of the ball, giving the opposing team nightmares when they go head-to-head. Averaging 14 points per game for his career, Brooks is no slouch on the offensive end either. Brooks has the potential to develop into a household name when it comes to two-way players in the NBA today.
At 25-years-old, Brooks still has much room to grow as a defender and overall player, and he could have been a great pick for the Bucks at 17.
No. 2 option for Milwaukee Bucks in 2017 NBA Draft — OG Anunoby
Like Brooks, OG Anunoby has developed another promising two-way player that the Bucks passed up on in favor of Wilson. The forward went 23rd overall to the Toronto Raptors, and the Bucks have seen their fair share of him over the past few years.
Due to his height at 6-foot-7 and impressive wingspan of 7-foot-6 wingspan, Anunoby is an incredibly versatile defender. His strength allows him to guard players much bigger than himself, including Antetokounmpo. The two are frequently matched up when the Bucks and Raptors play, and Anunoby has always been a pestering force for the Greek Freak. Antetokounmpo is not the only star that Anunoby has given trouble over the years, as he is consistently challenging some of the top players in the game.
Anunoby’s stellar defense should not take away from his game on the offensive end. He has steadily improved with each passing season, most recently by averaging 15.9 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 39.8 percent from 3-point range. Numbers like those are certainly captivating, and as he continues to get better, Anunoby has likely not even scratched the surface of his potential offensively.
Due to what he brings to the table on both ends of the ball, Anunoby’s hypothetical fit with the Bucks needs little convincing. He would have been a seamless pairing with Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks, giving them another reputable two-way player to bolster their guard rotation further. In the modern-day, his presence would help form arguably the best lineup on the defensive end in the association.
Just like Brooks, the 24-year-old has a future as an All-Defensive player and could find himself on the ballot as early as next season if he continues playing at this high level. In fact, if he takes another step in the right direction, Anuonoby could be a sleeper pick for Most Improved Player in 2021-22.
No. 1 option for Milwaukee Bucks in 2017 NBA Draft — John Collins
This is the pick that stings the most for the Bucks. They selected a power forward with the 17th overall selection, only for the far superior option to go two picks later. That would be John Collins, who has developed into a near-star player for the Atlanta Hawks over the past four seasons.
Since being drafted in 2017, Collins has averaged 16.6 points, 8.4 rebounds,1.5 assists, and a single blocked shot per game for the Hawks. If he can continue his development, Collins looks to be a lock for a future spot on an All-Star team. He is a prolific scorer that has shown glimpses of potential on the defensive end, and his ceiling as an NBA player is sky-high right now. Without a doubt, Collins will be an All-Star at some point down the line.
Safe to say that the Bucks could have benefitted by selecting that power forward two picks earlier. The fit with Collins would have been interesting, considering that he and Antetokounmpo play the same position. Had they shared the floor, Collins’ serviceable outside shot – 38 percent on 2.3 attempts for his career – would have allowed the two to co-exist to some degree. It would have a lethal tandem if Collins remained on this same upward trajectory he has been on with the Hawks.
Of course, hindsight is always 20-20 when it comes to these redrafts. No one predicted at the time that Collins would develop into this perennial star, which is why he fell to Atlanta at 19. At 23-years-old, the future is bright for the former Wake Forest product, and the Bucks will likely see plenty of him down the line as the Hawks look like an Eastern Conference threat for the future.
Perhaps there will be a postseason rematch between the Bucks and Hawks next season.