After making a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Charlotte Hornets got their guy in Miles Bridges.
The 2018 NBA Draft was an eventful night for the Charlotte Hornets and despite trading back, they were still able to get Miles Bridges. When talking about the former Michigan State forward, Mitch Kupchak said that “We had him highest graded on our board.”
Charlotte originally held the No. 11 pick in the first-round. They drafted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with that pick but immediately flipped him to the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 12 pick and two future second-round picks. With the 12th overall selection, the Hornets had their eyes set on Bridges.
It was a shrewd bit of business from Hornets’ general manager Mitch Kupchak who, in the end, got the player they wanted all along and got two future second-round picks in the process. The two picks included the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ second-round pick in 2020 and the Clippers’ second rounder in 2021. By moving back, Charlotte also saved $170,000 which is important for them to stay under the luxury tax this year.
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Taking a closer look at Miles, he played two years at Michigan State University under one of the top coaches in college basketball in Tom Izzo. There’s a good chance that the Flint, Michigan native would’ve been a lottery pick if he left for the draft in 2017. It’s worth noting that he did cancel his pre-draft workout with Charlotte but says that “something came up” and that he does want to be here.
Bridges averaged 17.1 points per game, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists during his Sophomore campaign. He also managed to shoot 45.7% from the field, 36.4% from three and 85.3% from the free throw line. Miles was a consensus second-team All-American and was one of 15 players named to the finalist’s list of the Wooden Award.
The 20-year old isn’t thought to have tremendous upside but does have a high ceiling and is considered one of the most NBA-ready players in the 2018 draft class. Measuring in at 6’7 with a 6’9 wingspan, Bridges can play both forward positions and his versatility could be an advantage for Charlotte going forward.
Synergy Basketball labels Miles as one of the most explosive wing forwards in the draft based on his impressive 73% shooting on cuts and put backs but also pointed out that he had a 70% effective field goal percentage on spot-up jumpers.
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The Charlotte Hornets may very well have grabbed their small forward of the future by drafting Bridges. It will be interesting to see if he starts the season off of the bench or as a starter ahead of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. One would have to think that a trade is coming because of the team’s plethora of wing players (Miles, Nicolas Batum, Jeremy Lamb, Malik Monk, Dwayne Bacon and MKG).