Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Top 10 2018 NBA Draft targets as of March 1

By Maxwell Ogden

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 carries the Big Ten regular-season championship trophy after the Spartan defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 carries the Big Ten regular-season championship trophy after the Spartan defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Aaron Jordan #23 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans drives to the basket while defended by Aaron Jordan #23 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Projection: Lottery
Age: 19 (3/21/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6″, 225 pounds, 6’9″
Slash Line: .466/.360/.898
Season Averages: 30.9 MPG, 16.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.9 BPG, 2.0 3PM

Miles Bridges is a rare example of a unique NBA Draft prospect. He’s built like a power forward in a shooting guard’s body, but is developing the skill level to justify the belief that he could be a perimeter-oriented player at the next level.

If the New York Knicks believe that Bridges can make the full transition to small forward, then he should be an option at No. 9 overall.

Bridges is a bruising slasher who can finish at the rim with both power and finesse. He’s also a vastly improved three-point shooter. His efficiency has slightly declined since the 2016-17 campaign, but his ability to shoot off the bounce has reached a new level.

Overall, Bridges’ game has evolved since his freshman season, as he’s played more like a wing than the undersized big he appeared to be in 2016-17—a testament to his work ethic.

That same work ethic has enabled him to go from 68.5 percent shooting on free throws in 2016-17 to 89.8 percent in 2017-18.

Defensively, Bridges has been tasked with matching up against players at every position from 2 to 4. He’s a solid rebounder for his size, but the appeal to a franchise like New York will be the film of Tom Izzo’s star player defending both inside and beyond the three-point line.

Considering the Knicks are reportedly interested in Bridges, it stands to reason that he’ll be in the mix if the Knicks pick at No. 9 overall.

Home/Knicks Draft