NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 17: Portland uses three first round picks

Finding two-way wing players is the goal of every NBA team these days. With lineups downsizing, it’s even more imperative to have enough players on the roster who can play the two through four positions. Thus, some players may end up more highly valued simply because of positional scarcity. Villanova’s Mikal Bridges is one of those two-way wings who has flashed potential to be a top-tier 3-and-D prospect.

Bridges is averaging just 13.7 points per 40 minutes this season with a meager 15.6 percent usage rate, but when he does shoot, he does it efficiently. The sophomore has a 70.0 true shooting percentage and is shooting 40.8 percent from 3-point range. He is the definition of an offensive roleplayer who can knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers or slash to the basket off the ball. Bridges hasn’t shown a lot of individual creation yet.

On defense, Bridges is a really good statistically, averaging 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per 40 minutes. He’s got long arms, moves well and can disrupt passing lanes. The only downside is his slight frame. He’ll need to add muscle to battle against bigger wings in the NBA.

It’s tough to imagine much upside with Bridges unless you imagine that he’ll develop into a creator on offense, but as far as 3-and-D prospects go, there aren’t many better. Bridges is big, active and has shown that he can knock down an outside shot. That’ll fit well on the Oklahoma City Thunder.