2018 NBA Draft: 5 best perimeter defenders available

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: Barry Brown Jr. #5 of the Kansas State Wildcats looks to make a pass against Khyri Thomas #2 of the Creighton Bluejays during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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Villanova’s Mikal Bridges (25) defends a shot by Kansas’ Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) in the first half during an NCAA Tournament national semifinal on Saturday, March 31, 2018, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Villanova advanced, 95-79. (Rich Sugg/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

2. Mikal Bridges (Villanova)

If you had to create a defensive prototype for today’s NBA the resulting creation would likely resemble Villanova’s Mikal Bridges. At a reported 6-foot-7 and with a wingspan ranging from seven feet to 7-foot-2 — Bridges didn’t get measured at the 2018 NBA Draft Combine. Bridges has the dimensions to guard any position in the modern NBA. Given his athleticism, Bridges is capable of staying with smaller players and his length allows him to hassle bigger opponents.

Bridges took a similar path with Jay Wright and the Wildcats as Josh Hart; from defensive specialist to an offensive hub. Bridges was the guy that Wright went to whenever he needed an opposing player shut down. His defense helped key Villanova to their second national title in three years this past season. The Wildcats were able to switch everything because they had a player of Bridges caliber on the floor. He could very well provide something similar to the NBA franchise that drafts him on Thursday.

Ever since he broke into the rotation for Wright Bridges has been typecast as a future 3-and-D stud. Nothing from this previous seasons run did anything to counter that idea. Bridges could walk onto an NBA court tomorrow and be an average player and a plus-defender. There really isn’t any team or system that wouldn’t benefit from the addition of Bridges. Being a four-year junior puts a slight damper on his long-term projections, but as the playoff showed us this year, there’s no such thing as having too many two-way wings.

There surely are players with better upside, but none are the complete package that Bridges is coming into the league. Given his plug-and-play status, playoff teams will surely be looking for ways to get him on their team (Philadelphia at 10 is pretty much secured as his floor on draft night).

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