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The NBA Draft lottery has taken place, and we now know the order of the upcoming draft, including where the Sixers will pick — 10th overall. The NBA draft itself is barely over a month away, and it’s never too early to start speculating which player is going to which team.
I’ve scoured the internet for mock drafts, and the following is a collection of post-lottery projected selections for the Sixers at #10. (Each author is hyperlinked to their full mock draft, if you’d like to consider all teams’ possibilities.)
Garry Parish, CBS Sports
Mikal Bridges — SG/SF, Villanova
I’m not sure any non-freshman helped himself more this season with NBA people than Bridges — who averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting a career-best 43.5 percent from 3-point range in 32.1 minutes per game for a Villanova team that won the national title. More than anything, the 6-7 wing spent the season making “pro shots” more regularly than ever and doing most of the things any franchise would want him to do at the next level. His ability to guard multiple positions makes him somebody who could theoretically contribute to a playoff team, like the 76ers, on opening night. Bridges likely isn’t equipped to create his own scoring opportunities, at least at this point. But he’s a great catch-and-shoot prospect — perhaps the best in this draft.
Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated
Miles Bridges — F, Michigan State
Philadelphia can breathe easy after keeping this pick away from Boston (it would have conveyed had it leapt to No. 2 or 3), and should be looking to complement their established core talent. Bridges may be an ideal fit for the Sixers, who play more of a fluid positional style with Ben Simmons at the point, and could use an athlete like him to help run the floor. While questions remain about how good of a shooter Bridges actually is and how much of a defensive plus he can become, he’s extremely athletic and has the makings of a utility-type combo forward. The four is probably his most natural spot, despite a lack of ideal positional size. Bridges could benefit from reimagining himself as a high-energy glue guy.
Chris Stone, the Sporting News
Mikal Bridges — SG/SF, Villanova
Realistically, this is a dream scenario for Philadelphia, as the front office should be looking for additional shooting on the wing. Bridges is one of the draft’s elite spot-up shooters, having converted 43.5 percent of his 3s last season.
The 21-year-old is also an excellent team defender. He uses his length and high basketball IQ to be a disruptive presence off the ball both in passing lanes and at the rim. Bridges is basically the perfect piece for a Philadelphia roster already oriented around Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
Joseph Zucker, Bleacher Report
Mikal Bridges — SG/SF, Villanova
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer
Wendell Carter — PF/C, Duke
I love Carter. I think he’s like an Al Horford-lite type of guy. We talked earlier in the show how the Sixers need someone like that. I think Carter is someone who can be that third big in the rotation for the Sixers. And he’s Embiid insurance as well.
O’Connor mentioned Collin Sexton as a possibility if the Sixers look to go with a playmaking scorer instead of a big.
Basketball Insiders
Steve Kyler: Miles Bridges — F, Michigan State
Moke Hamilton: Wendell Carter — PF/C, Duke
Jesse Blancarte: Collin Sexton — PG, Alabama
Benny Nadeau: Mikal Bridges — SG/SF, Villanova
I’m in the process of doing draft preparation, so I don’t have a fully researched, responsible projection for the Sixers at #10 just yet. But the players mentioned most often for the Sixers at #10 are Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges and Wendell Carter.
Currently, I’m a little skeptical that Mikal Bridges will be around when the Sixers pick at #10. I think Mikal would be a solid choice for the Knicks at #9 and wouldn’t be at all surprised to see New York select him.
I’m intrigued by both Kevin O’Connor and Jesse Blancarte mentioning Collin Sexton as a possibility for the Sixers. I like Sexton from the bits I’ve seen, and the Sixers could use a scoring guard. But a selection of any point guard at #10... Oh my, the madness that would ensure.
Over the next few weeks, we here at Liberty Ballers will be getting you prepared for the NBA Draft, including mock drafts, big boards, prospect profiles and more. Stay tuned!