2018 NBA Mock Draft: Way too early edition

Michigan State’s Miles Bridges surprised just about everyone when he announced that he planned to return to East Lansing for his sophomore season. The 19-year old would have almost certainly been a lottery pick — and potentially a top 10 selection — in the 2017 NBA Draft. Whatever the merits of Bridges’ decision (and remember it is his decision, not yours), he will now wait a year to hear his name called on draft night.

At 6-foot-7 with a strong frame, Bridges is built to play the small ball power forward role that has been popularized in the modern NBA. He succeeded in the position as a freshman at Michigan State, using his quickness and outside shooting to take advantage of mismatches on the offensive end while being the consummate example of a versatile defender on the other.

If one thing will keep Bridges’ stock from rising during his sophomore season, it will be his outside shooting. He knocked down 38.9 percent of his 144 3-pointers as a freshman, but he struggled from the free throw line (68.5), which is usually a better indicator of actual shooting prowess. If Bridges can’t knock down the outside shot, it limits his offensive ceiling and would make him a less enticing prospect. Keep an eye out for how his shot progresses in his second campaign.

Learn more about Miles Bridges at The Step Back.