Phoenix Suns: 2018 NBA Draft grades
No. 10: Mikal Bridges, Villanova (via trade with Philadelphia 76ers)
The Suns were reportedly locked in on Donte DiVincenzo at No. 16, but right before they could submit their selection, they got another call from the Philadelphia 76ers, who were open to moving Mikal Bridges, their selection at No. 10.
Right at the deadline, the Suns were able to work out a deal, drafting Texas Tech’s Zhaire Smith for the Sixers at No. 16 and attaching the coveted 2021 Miami Heat first-rounder in the process.
Sources: Suns have traded Zhaire Smith and 2021 Miami first-rounder to 76ers for Mikal Bridges.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2018
There are two schools of thought on this one.
On the one hand, that’s a potentially valuable asset to give up to move up six spots, especially when one could argue the talent gap between Zhaire Smith/Donte DiVincenzo and Mikal Bridges isn’t that massive. Pat Riley could be out three years from now, and with a ton of contracts coming off the books, if Miami misses in free agency the summer before, it could be a lottery team.
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There’s also the roundabout circle McDonough took with this deal. The No. 16 pick and unprotected 2021 Heat pick were the Suns’ compensation for trading Goran Dragic in 2015. At that same trade deadline, in a separate move, Phoenix dealt a potentially valuable protected first-rounder from the Los Angeles Lakers (from the Steve Nash deal), sending it to Philly as part of the three-team Brandon Knight deal.
The Suns got that pick back Thursday night, using a top-10 selection on the excellent Mikal Bridges, but it cost them both of the picks they received for moving Dragic. So essentially, McDonough traded away Dragic — and his compensation for Dragic — for a top-10 pick that should’ve never left his treasure trove in the first place.
Still, as much as that twinge of bitter irony should not be overlooked, there’s no guarantee that Heat pick will even be valuable. As long as Riley is in South Beach, that roster will look to compete, which automatically caps the pick’s likely value, barring some unexpected downward spiral.
For another thing, while it’s impossible to know how valuable the selection will be, even if it is, the Suns should feel good about what they got in return: A No. 10 pick who easily could be a top-seven talent in a loaded draft class. Phoenix hasn’t been to the playoffs in eight years and has a star who’s steadily growing impatient in Booker.
Phoenix is setting themselves up for Booker, Bridges and Bender to optimally spread the floor for Ayton to have massive open space around him, which is how Jackson will be feasting consistently off cut opportunities. Let’s fast forward to October right now.
— The Bright Side (@BrightSideSun) June 22, 2018
This isn’t just about McDonough making moves to preserve his job security. This is about an entire franchise that needs to get back to its winning ways. As a two-time NCAA champion, one of the best 3-point shooters in the draft and one of the best wing defenders in the class, Bridges embodies everything the Suns need on their roster and everything modern NBA teams are looking for.
The small-ball possibilities with Booker, Bridges, Josh Jackson and even T.J. Warren are tantalizing. Though his arrival calls Warren’s future into question, and though he’s already 22, Bridges is an accomplished, NBA-ready rookie who can help this team win ball games in the interim and for years to come.
Losing this Miami pick could hurt years down the road, but the whole point of having assets to put them to good use. By snagging one of the surer things in the draft in Bridges, the Suns did exactly that, bolstering their young core in the process.
Grade: A-