5 options for 10th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft

Mikal Bridges, Villanova

Bridges is the overwhelming favorite to go to the Sixers at 10, and for good reason. He’s the prototypical 3-and-D wing that most teams are looking for, defending at a high level on one end and spacing the floor consistently on the other.

Of all the lottery players, Bridges is the easiest to fit into any system. He’s a stellar off-ball shooter, gunning around screens and knocking down shots on the move. He lacks the advanced ball handling skills that most top-10 picks have, but that’s something players can improve over time.

Jaylen Brown is a solid example. He wasn’t nearly the shooter that Bridges was in college, but entered the league as a two-way wing whose offense was limited by lackluster ball skills. Two years after getting drafted, he torched the Sixers in the playoffs, emerging as a legitimate go-to scoring threat.

The Sixers’ run a lot of off-ball movement, using Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid as playmakers. Bridges fits right into that system, giving them a more athletic alternative to Marco Belinelli, who struggled defensively in the playoffs.

Bridges isn’t just a shooter either. While he doesn’t do much off the dribble, he is a capable driver who can finish through traffic in the lane. That also helps him as a cutter. He flashes some solid passing chops as well, making the right play when it becomes available.

He doesn’t necessarily fix the Sixers’ foremost needs in terms of shot creation, but he gives them another elite perimeter defender who can find a niche immediately on the offensive end. There is always inherent upside to a wing in Bridges’ mold, so additional shot creation skills aren’t out of the picture entirely.

Next: 5 reasons Sixers should sign Paul George

Given his length and instincts, Bridges is probably the best individual defensive prospect on this list. That, above all else, is what keeps him ahead of names like (Miles) Bridges and Gilgeous-Alexander on most draft boards/mocks.