Denver Nuggets: 5 options for pick No. 14 in 2018 NBA Draft
By Ty Delbridge
1. Miles Bridges
- Height: 6’7″
- Weight: 225 lbs
- Age: 21
- Position: SF
Similar to Robert Williams, if Miles Bridges had come out in last year’s draft, he would have been a top pick. He went back to Michigan State and had a great year, but NBA teams love youth, and in this draft, there are a lot of young promising prospects who will go ahead of Bridges.
Bridges is still a lottery pick, and The Ringer labeled him as a “glue-guy” and a “thick-framed forward who projects as a do-it-all role player but can reach another level if he develops his ball handling.”
In his sophomore season, Bridges averaged 17.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.8 blocks and 0.6 steals in 31.4 minutes per game while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from the 3-point line. Bridges was the main guy on his team and was asked to do a lot on both ends of the floor.
The Nuggets could use Bridges as their small forward and maybe even as a small-ball 4 in the right matchup. Bridges is a mature, high basketball IQ, all around good basketball player and could earn a starting spot sooner rather than later.
Bridges will benefit from more space in the NBA and not having to be the primary guy on his team. He could take a step back and let Jokic, Harris and Murray run the show on offense while buckling down on defense. The Nuggets could have their starting small forward for a long time with this pick.
Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft - Doncic still No. 1 in post-lottery edition
Bridges is going to be a guy who is a key to a lot of winning teams and plays 10-plus years in the NBA. The Ringer compared Bridges to Tobias Harris and Derrick Coleman. He can be a Harris type player on offense if he sharpens his skill on that end. Coleman played 15 seasons in the NBA and was a solid player who averaged 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for his career.