Though some fans might view Miles Bridges as another “safe pick” by the Charlotte Hornets’ front office, there’s reason to believe he could be different than previous Hornet rookies.
With the likes of Michael Porter Jr. and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still on the board, many Charlotte Hornets‘ fans were clamoring for the front office to take a “swing for the fences”. However, as we all know, the Hornets took Miles Bridges, a player they had been connected to in the late-lottery range for two years. Though some criticized and questioned the pick in the heat of the moment, many came to terms with the pick, as Bridges projects to have a very high floor.
Yet, some still remain at odds with the Hornets’ recent draft history and who they used this year’s pick on. After seeing how Frank Kaminsky has panned out after three seasons, their concern is certainly warranted in this situation. That said, Miles Bridges isn’t your typical Hornets draft day selection in this regard.
While he is certainly capable of contributing right away, Bridges projects to have a higher floor than Frank. Bridges is a far superior athlete, more versatile on the offensive end, and has a body that’s ready-made to handle the NBA’s fast-paced, rugged style of play.
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In the same way, Miles Bridges isn’t a “specialist” in any facet of his game, either; rather, he is an all-around, jack-of-all-trades of sorts. In year’s past, the Hornets had the tendency to select players who were “specialists”, in that they were really good in one specific area of their game.
Some examples include Malik Monk (premier shooter), Kaminsky (offense), and even Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (defense, supposedly). In hindsight, these picks look especially bad when players like Donovan Mitchel, Myles Turner, and Bradley Beal (more well-rounded players) were available.
Bridges is able to handle the ball, facilitate for others, create his own shot, and hold his own on defense. To top it all off, he’s one of the top athletes in the entire 2018 draft class. Bridges is far different in this regard, and likely means he is bound for more court time than previous Hornet rookies.
Last year, we saw Malik Monk sit on the bench as his shooting became inconsistent and his defense wasn’t good enough to justify keeping him on the floor. Further, if Frank can’t hit shots one night, it’s hard to justify keeping him in the game; the same thing for MKG if he’s getting torched by an opposing player.
Miles Bridges is going to get a lot of play time this season. If given the opportunity, Bridges will prove to be a player that is hard to take off of the court. If his shot isn’t falling (as it did at times in Summer League), Bridges is able to create for others and offer a tantalizing big-play potential that this team needs.
If all goes right, Bridges looks to be a key piece in the rotation as a rookie, whilst the Charlotte Hornets look to continue to capitalize on their win-now talent.