The issue with DJ is that coaches and fans have been projecting how good he might be since he was a sophomore in high school. Heck, Robert Smith benched him all the time even when he was a senior and signed with Illinois. Then at Illinois, he has show very short flashes but it goes away quickly. Upping a player's motor is not that easy, and so far, high school and college coaches have not been able to accomplish it with DJ.
If he stays on the team, I would have very low expectations and be pleasantly surprised if he contributed positive minutes.
Agreed.
I would go a step further and say that you cannot teach motor. Kids either have it or they don't. I would recruit the high motor / less skill guy every
time over the low motor / more skill guy. See Kendall Gill and Luther Head for examples of athletic motored-up guys that improved dramatically over their careers. I cannot think of a single low motor guy that over-achieved.
As you say there is no mystery about DJ. Everybody has talked about his lack of initiative and consistency - i.e., low motor.