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2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is D.J. Wilson?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 10, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) shoots the ball in front of Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) in the second half during the Big Ten Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) shoots the ball in front of Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) in the second half during the Big Ten Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Good

The first thing that pops out with Wilson is his length. His height is impressive at 6-foot-9. That is about what you want from a power forward. But where Wilson stands out is with his length and reach.

At the NBA Draft Combine, Wilson measured with a 9-foot-1.5 standing reach, the eighth largest reach at the Combine. He also measured with a 7-foot-3 wingspan.

This is all to say he has the physical tools to wreak havoc defensively. A longer wingspan and bigger reach enable a player to catch up and make up for defensive mistakes. It essentially gives them more margin for error.

And for a player like Wilson, that is an added bonus. Wilson did not need much of a margin for error.

According to Sports-Reference, Wilson posted 1.6 defensive win shares and a 4.3 defensive box plus-minus. Those are impressive numbers. And no one needs numbers to know the kind of work Wilson can do defensively.

He has the speed and athleticism to step out to the perimeter and guard small forwards while keeping the size to defend power forwards closer to the block. Being able to step out to the perimeter with that length is incredibly valuable. And John Beilein is not a coach that will let anyone skate by without playing good defense.

Wilson should be able to jump right in and provide some defense, using that gift of his length to make up for any mistakes. There is something there to mold.

On top of that, Wilson uses his athleticism well to finish at the rim. He is smart cutting along the baseline and can finish emphatically at the rim.