Daily Knicks
Fansided

2018 NBA Mock Draft: Impact of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
17 of 31
Next
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the second half against the Bucknell Bison in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the second half against the Bucknell Bison in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Miles Bridges. 16. player. 66. . Guard/Forward. Michigan State Spartans

Age: 20 (3/21/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6″, 225 pounds, 6’9″
Slash Line: .463/.369/.883
Season Averages: 31.2 MPG, 16.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.8 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 2.0 3PM

Assuming the 2018 NBA Draft goes this way, the Phoenix Suns will have franchise players at shooting guard and center. Phoenix also has a competition at power forward between Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, and a productive point guard in Elfrid Payton.

I’m not entirely sold on Payton being the point guard of the future, but Miles Bridges is too clearly the best player available for this pick to go anywhere else.

Bridges is undersized for the forward positions, but he’s a bruising scorer with a modern skill set and explosive leaping ability. He’s dramatically improved his offensive skill set, including a tightened handle, a cleaner release off the bounce, and a more than respectable midrange game.

Bridges is also an excellent passer who’s comfortable handling the ball and setting his teammates up for open looks in the half court or transition.

What rounds Bridges’ draft stock into form is his versatility on the defensive end of the floor. T.J. Warren may be the better scorer, but Bridges is a more well-rounded player and projects to be a significantly better defender than Warren, who ranks amongst the worst in the NBA in that regard.

It’s possible that the Suns will select a point guard instead, but Bridges is the best player available and the versatile defender whom Phoenix needs along the wings.

Knicks Note: The New York Knicks are reportedly high on Miles Bridges. If Mikal Bridges is off the board, he could be the pick.

Home/Knicks Draft