Age: 20
Height, Weight: 6-foot-7, 225 pounds
Slash Line: .449/.316/.750
Season Averages: 6.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 0.7 3PM
Miles Bridges entered the 2018 NBA Draft as one of this class’s most intriguing players, athletically. He jumped off the court at Michigan State, with high-flying dunks and athleticism that dominated his weaker counterparts in the Big 12.
Typically, Bridges would have been a tweener in the old NBA. As lineups become positionless, it made his transition easier, although the stats, through over 60 games, have not come through.
In a limited role with the Charlotte Hornets, Bridges as 8.8 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting. The outside shooting isn’t there, either, but the defensive potential has cracked through in 19.2 minutes per game.
The Hornets traded up one spot to select the hybrid forward in the draft. There were seemingly other teams after him, so the Michael Jordan-owned team leaped enough to make this selection.
Bridges always seemed below Knox entering the draft process. There was more potential as a two-way player, but Knox showed more offensively, which made a top-10 pick to the New York Knicks last June.
The book is hardly out on Bridges, and he likely needs multiple years to develop. Will he become worthwhile as the 12th overall player?