‘No hard feelings’: After trade from 76ers, Bridges ‘happy’ to join Suns
Jun 21, 2018, 9:31 PM | Updated: Jun 22, 2018, 10:42 am
Villanova's Mikal Bridges leaves the stage after he was picked 10th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during the NBA basketball draft in New York, Thursday, June 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)
(AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)
PHOENIX – Draft night is always busy, especially for those players on location in Brooklyn waiting to hear their name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Villanova guard/forward Mikal Bridges’ evening may have been a bit busier than most.
Selected 10th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, Bridges had just finished speaking to the media about playing for his hometown team when he was informed he had been traded, shipped clear across the country to Arizona and the Phoenix Suns.
“I mean, it’s a business,” he said on a conference call with Valley reporters. “It’s a blessing to be in this position, be in the NBA. I mean, there’s no hard feelings. It’s not like I was supposed to go to the Sixers. I’m happy I’m here. I can’t wait to (join) the team to get this going.”
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On the clock for the 16th overall pick, and reportedly prepared to draft Bridges’ college teammate Donte DiVincenzo, the Suns received a call from the Sixers with a proposed trade.
A deal was struck quickly. The Suns would draft Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith and then send Smith’s draft rights plus the 2021 first-round draft pick owed to them via Miami to the Sixers for Bridges, a two-time national champion at Villanova who fits the mold of a 3-and-D wing.
“A guy who’s going to take a lot of pride in defense and can really shoot the ball, run the floor; do anything that the team needs him to do,” Bridges said, when asked to describe his game.
This season, Bridges, listed at 6-foot-7 and 210-pounds, ranked 18th in the nation in three-point accuracy at 43.5 percent. He averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 40 games on the way to winning the Julius Erving Award as the country’s top small forward.
Heading west may be a bit of an adjustment for Bridges. The good news is he’s not coming alone.
Bridges and fellow first-round draft pick Deandre Ayton, selected No. 1 overall, are good friends. They developed a relationship this offseason.
Other than Ayton, Bridges is somewhat familiar with the Suns.
“I just know there’s young guys. I know Devin Booker is unbelievable. You got Josh Jackson. I watched them a little bit and I’m excited,” he said. “I know how they play, they go up-and-down. They play a little small ball and I’m excited to be here.”
