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

By Maxwell Ogden

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Wendell Carter, Jr. #34 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on prior to their game against the Syracuse Orange during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Wendell Carter, Jr. #34 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on prior to their game against the Syracuse Orange during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 03: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans in action against the Michigan Wolverines during the semifinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Michigan State Spartans 75-64. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 03: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans in action against the Michigan Wolverines during the semifinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2018 in New York City. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Michigan State Spartans 75-64. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Age: 20 (3/21/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6.75″, 220 pounds, 6’9.5″
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

I’m not as infatuated with the idea of Miles Bridges playing forward as others, but I think he’ll be an at least solid NBA player at the 3. It’s unwise to value basement over ceiling with a top-10 pick, but that’s actually where Bridges has been winning scouts over.

Not only does Bridges have the IQ and well-rounded skill set to be solid, but he has the scoring instincts and athleticism to be an All-Star.

Bridges is a hybrid forward with a somewhat underwhelming wingspan, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be successful. Bridges is a skilled shooter who can spot up from beyond the arc or drive and pull up from midrange with reasonable efficiency.

He’s also an explosive leaper who can work without the ball, throw down dominating finishes, or provide value as the dive man in the pick and roll.

Defensively, Bridges overcomes his questionable wingspan by getting into offensive players and crowding their space. It’s a strategy that works to frustrate rhythm scorers, as well as an approach that the Knicks have been wishing their players would embrace.

I’m still uncertain about Bridges, but he’s a prospect whom one would be remiss to completely ignore when discussing the 2018 NBA Draft.

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