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2018 NBA Mock Draft: Emmanuel Mudiay’s impact on New York Knicks

By Maxwell Ogden

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 01: Emmanuel Mudiay #0 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Pepsi Center on February 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 01: Emmanuel Mudiay #0 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Pepsi Center on February 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA PA- FEBRUARY 01: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats tries to dribble around Marcus Foster #0 of the Creighton Bluejays during a college basketball game at the Wells Fargo Arena on February 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Wildcats won 98-78. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA PA- FEBRUARY 01: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats tries to dribble around Marcus Foster #0 of the Creighton Bluejays during a college basketball game at the Wells Fargo Arena on February 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Wildcats won 98-78. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Upside Comparison: Jimmy Butler
Age: 21 (8/30/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7″, 210 pounds, 7’1.5″
Slash Line: .495/.415/.823
Season Averages: 32.0 MPG, 26.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 2.3 3PM

The New York Knicks need a small forward who can provide contributions on both ends of the floor. Frank Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay could share the backcourt with Tim Hardaway Jr. at the 3 spot, but Bridges has both immediate and long-term potential.

A 6’9″ wing who can defend multiple positions and shoot the lights out, Bridges has the tools to become the player who brings this team together.

It’s easy to throw out the phrase, “Elite defender,” and forget what it actually means to qualify as such. In Bridges’ case, he overwhelms opponents with his size and length, and plays the angles in a way that few know how—at any level.

Thus, while defense may not normally be enough to warrant a top-10 selection, Bridges has the potential to be an All-Defense mainstay in the NBA.

Offensively, Bridges is an excellent three-point shooter who can work both with and without the ball. He’s improved his handle and finishing ability near the rim, and has displayed the ability to create for his teammates as a distributor.

There may be players with higher ceilings than Bridges, but he looks the part of the best two-way perimeter player in this draft class.

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