2017 NBA Draft: Miles Bridges Makes Sense Late in the Lottery for Philadelphia 76ers

With the 2017 NBA Draft coming up in a few months, Michigan State forward Miles Bridges has made himself a potential lottery gem for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Now, everyone knows that the Philadelphia 76ers need guards. They need guards in the worst way. With the 2017 NBA Draft as guard-heavy as this, you simply can’t go wrong taking one in the first round. But, what if the Sixers end up outside of the top eight?

In this scenario, let’s say a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Dallas Mavericks jumps the Sixers. The Sixers end up in the bottom half of the top 10. At this point, all of the promising guard prospects get selected.

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Either way, both situations point to a major need. While the Philadelphia 76ers need guards, the certainly don’t have guarantees at the small forward position going forward. This draft class could prove to help build up a sense of reassurance for the team.

Obviously, the Sixers need guards, but this NBA Draft class has some underrated wings. This year’s crop has the potential to yield some quality impact players. One guy who has flown under the radar that could easily make an impact is Michigan State’s Miles Bridges.

Now, other than Josh Jackson, Miles Bridges has shown that he is the most NBA-ready of all the forwards this year. He has emerged as a leader for his Michigan State Spartans. With his skill set, he could definitely make an impact for a team like the Philadelphia 76ers.

Miles Ahead of the Competition

On the court, Bridges has made some noise. In his freshman year, he currently averages 16.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. Those numbers look even better knowing that he shoots 40.8 percent from three. Those numbers make you think that Miles Bridges can easily make the transition to the NBA.

Offensively, Miles Bridges could become an asset. He has crazy athleticism and attacks the rim with ease. He crashes the boards better than most big men, and has not one ounce of fear in his body. His 3-point shot definitely comes off as one of his best assets. If you look at his stroke, you can tell that even the distance of the longer NBA three won’t scare him. Miles Bridges’ form is as smooth as butter.

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On defense, you won’t find a better wing in the lottery. While on paper he doesn’t produce as well as some of his competitors, Miles Bridges definitely makes himself known. His hops and his court awareness help him look opponents down. He shows a relentless desire to make a play and isn’t afraid to put his body on the line.

This season, Bridges averages 1.6 blocks per game. He posts a 5.0 defensive box plus/minus. That’s better than anyone on the Sixers. So, I guess you can say that Miles Bridges would immediately make an impact.

To me, he fits immediately with the Sixers. While not the best prospect altogether, Bridges comes off as a plug-and-play kind of guy. For instance, a guy like Josh Jackson still needs to develop a jumper. Or on the other side, a guy like Jonathan Isaac feels like a project player. At least with Bridges, you know what you have. For a team that hasn’t had much success, it would be nice to have some added assurance in a guy like Miles Bridges.

Bridges’ Fit

So, in case you hadn’t known, the Philadelphia 76ers still need answers at most positions. The team still doesn’t have its guards of the future. With the team’s potential frontcourt still in limbo, nothing has gone completely right for this team.

But, the Sixers can easily make a solid move in the 2017 NBA Draft. In particular, they need to draft a wing who can compliment guys like Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, and Joel Embiid. To me, this fit would revolve around a guy who does not demand the ball. This player would need to be able to work within the offense. In my opinion, Bridges fits the bill.

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Imagine this, the Sixers are running the fast break. Ben Simmons has the ball and a guy in Miles Bridges ready for a lob pass. Simmons lobs the ball to Bridges and he slams it for a sick Rodriguez-Henderson-esque alley-oop. The Center would go insane knowing that the Sixers finally have a combo that can do that consistently.

Every team needs that third or forth option that can score at will. Miles Bridges could easily fit that role. He would be the Philadelphia 76ers version of what the Golden State Warriors had in Harrison Barnes. Both Barnes and Bridges measure around the same, while Barnes has a longer wingspan. They both shoot the three ball well and have great athletic ability. On the defensive side of the ball, Bridges works harder than Barnes. At least in college, Bridges has shown more aggression and drive than most will give him credit for.

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So, if the Philadelphia 76ers want to snatch that immediate impact player, Miles Bridges fits that role. He can easily find a way to contribute for this team. He’s not a guy who will demand the ball a lot, and can work within the offense. Hopefully, if given the opportunity, the Sixers and Miles Bridges end up in each others’ lives.