If you're John Beilein, do you want the good news or good news first?
That's how Wednesday — the last day for early-entry players to withdraw from the NBA Draft — played out for Beilein and the Michigan basketball program. Don't fear, Big Blue fans. Mortiz Wagner's return and D.J. Wilson's departure are both good things for the Wolverines.
MORE: Where is D.J. Wilson in SN's NBA Draft prospect rankings?
Wilson became Michigan's sixth player since 2011 to leave early for the NBA. According to Rod Beard of the Detroit News, Wilson has a guarantee from the Jazz at 30th overall, and many NBA Draft sites have Wilson projected as a late first-round pick, a safe bet for his versatility as a stretch 4. (ESPN's Jeff Goodman put Wilson in the 25-45 range based on feedback from NBA executives.)
"D.J. and our coaching staff worked very hard over the last month to get as much information as possible on his draft status," coach Beilein said in a press release. "Given the data and insight we received, D.J. is confident he is ready to take the next step in his basketball career. We love D.J., and he will always be a Michigan Wolverine. His development over the past three seasons, and particularly this past season, was phenomenal.
"With continued work, he shows great potential to improve in a similar manner in the NBA. We wish him and his family the very best, and we will always be rooting for him during this draft process and for all the years to come."
As disappointing as it may be that the Wolverines won't return both of their big men, it's a promising sign for a program that hasn't been known for recruiting or developing NBA-caliber forwards. Of all the Beilein recruits at Michigan over the last 10 seasons, just three have been drafted in the NBA: Glenn Robinson III, Mitch McGary and now Wilson.
With Wednesday's news, Michigan sends a former three-star recruit to the NBA after just two full seasons and returns one of the Big Ten's most versatile frontcourt players to keep some continuity on the team, as many NBA scouts will be eager to see how Wagner develops over the next season or two.
It's a very different look for a coach whose M.O. is recruiting underrated guards, developing them over three or four years and sending them off to the professional ranks, either in the NBA or abroad. Beilein has done it at Michigan (Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas, Caris LeVert) and West Virginia (Mike Gansey), and his system thrives on guard-heavy play and 3-point shooting rather than a robust inside presence.
But the NBA is evolving — the most effective frontcourt players are versatile big men who can shoot and put defenders in uncomfortable situations beyond the 3-point line. Just look at Kevin Love, Serge Ibaka, Kristaps Porzingis and Ryan Anderson, among many others. Even traditional centers like DeMarcus Cousins and Marc Gasol have expanded their games to adjust to the new style. Gasol alone took four times as many 3-pointers during the 2016-17 season (266) than the first eight seasons of his career combined (66).
Wilson and Wagner fit that description, too. Instead of just sending guards to the NBA, Michigan is starting to look like an attractive program for bigs who want a shot at the NBA. It'll be a first for Beilein — McGary and Robinson were both five-star recruits and expected to leave early — but it's a sign that he's adapting his system to the frontcourt and getting all of his players ready for the next step. Beilein was able to turn Kevin Pittsnogle into a near 20-point per game scorer by his senior season at West Virginia. Imagine how much guys like Wagner can improve under his tutelage.
Wilson's departure reaffirms that notion. Wagner's return does, too. Maybe there really isn't any bad news for Beilein.
