2018 NBA Mock Draft: Time for the Final Four

While NBA comparisons can be frustrating because of their incongruity to college prospects, I believe Bridges’ similarity to the Clippers’ Tobias Harris is too obvious to ignore.

While Harris was not much of a 3-point shooter in one season at Tennessee and therefore not quite as efficient as Bridges overall, his NBA stats could provide a template for Bridges’ NBA career. At least 25 percent of Harris’ shots have been 3s since the 2014-15 season, and this year he really worked to make the 3-pointer a core part of his game, with a 3-point rate of 37.5 percent. It’s paid off, as Harris, in his sixth season has had the best shooting season of his career, making 42 percent of his shots from deep.

In turn, that has allowed him to play in position at the four, making his defense more playable and allowing both Detroit and Los Angeles to play smaller and faster.

Bridges has similar potential, but what makes him a top-10 candidate in this strong draft is his play-making ability. That aspect of his game resembles someone like Aaron Gordon, who need a shot to get to he next level this year.

If Bridges truly shows play-making and shooting at the 4 in the NBA, he will be an incredibly valuable player, and someone Charlotte could build around.