That’s awesome, I would be so happy for him if he could somehow make an NBA team.
My view of this is that Duncan has worked really hard on becoming a better and more explosive athlete, and that has helped him become able to make threes that he couldn’t make in college.
Even in the G-league highlights from last season, he was throwing down impressive dunks, something he never did at Michigan.
He’s always been a great shooter, it’s just that now his improved athleticism allows him to take a greater variety of threes, and get off and make more contested shots.
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DJ Wilson likely headed home to Sacramento
Because no NBA team wants him and he’s just going home to live with his parents?
Oh…you mean because he was traded. It will be interesting to see if he ever gets off the bench on a bad Sacramento team. DJ is one of the more interesting career paths. He was a non-factor for much of his Michigan career, had a great junior year and demonstrated what the NBA loves - potential - and then has remained glued to the bench ever since. Even more weird is that two years ago he at least got a little playing time and shot well from 3…but horribly from both 2pt and FT.
Wonder if DJ just needs a clear path to playing time so he can develop or if there’s just something about his game/physical profile that makes him unplayable.
I think about Austin Daye. 6’11”” and a perfect stroke. But he just never seemed to find a role.
Austin Daye was also pretty thin, soft, not super athletic (decent), and didn’t seem to have much drive to be good. I haven’t followed DJ as closely, since he’s been a Buck and not a Piston, but from what I can tell he hasn’t shown those flaws. I just remember Daye opting to work out with his dad during the summer instead of with anyone the Pistons wanted him with.
From what I can tell, there are enough people in NBA circles who think DJ’s lack of playing time is more a result of being on a good team with a bunch of established veterans in the front court (the Lopez twins,Giannis, Ilyasova), and showed some promise in his only consistent playing time (when Ilyasova was hurt in 2018/2019) that it’s at least worth kicking the tires on him for minimal investment.
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Agreed, he can shoot the three and moves his feet pretty well. If he’s stronger he may find some PT. He has shown flashes that he can compete, the NBA loves to spread the floor.
I feel like those are probably DJs deficiencies as well, no? Add in lack of lateral mobility
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That’s a fun piece, including the nuggets about Glen Rice. But my god did it need an editor.
I mean I have no idea if Wilson can play, his shooting at the NBA level has been more theoretical than real. But I’m pretty sure he hasn’t worn through his good will yet.
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DJ is far more athletic and stronger than Daye. DJ’s a listed 6’10" 231 and (some)Daye was 6’11" 220. I’d guess DJ isn’t quite that tall.
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I agree with what you said about why Daye didn’t find success, I just wonder if DJ has the same problem. He’s a little more athletic, but not as long or as skilled. Like Daye, maybe he just doesn’t work as a stretch four or a big SF.
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I believe when DJ was in for Ilyasova two years ago he also had a pretty good rebounding rate. Shot the 3 and rebounded well. So definitely a finesse offensive player, but not soft if you’re going in for those boards. Maybe need some defensive stats. But again, small sample size, so some team will kick the tires and give him a shot I bet.
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Coaching and front office changes can stop a young player’s career before it starts.
DJ still looks like a bit of a puppy. I’d love to see him get his chance to shine.
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I think he can work as a stretch 4. I don’t see stardom in his future but I think he certainly can be a rotation-guy (maybe even a starter) in the right environment. In those highlight clips they featured one game where it looks like he was matched up with Steven Adams at the 5 the bulk of the game. In that contest, he scored 18 points and had 17 rebounds (plus 4 assists). Granted, it was the last regular season game of the year so he probably didn’t get OKC’s best against him but that’s still pretty impressive.
I don’t think it’s unfair to question his drive but I haven’t seen evidence one way or the other (at the NBA-level) that that’s the case.
Regardless of his weaknesses, if DJ plays this year he’ll clear $12M over the past 4 years…not bad for his first job out of school! Pretty good start for any young man! 
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This contract is such a steal for Miami right now.
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It’s tough to break into the rotation when you’re talking about the top regular season team in the East. I remember Jermaine O’Neal could never play for the Blazers, same with Zach Randolph, and same with Gerald Wallace with the Kings.
I’m not predicting that type of success for DJ, just saying young guys can get buried on good teams even when they have talent.
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