2018 Draft Thread Lucky #7

[WindyCityBorn]

Someone Mikal reminds me of is Ron Artest, who was a mid first round pick. Artest's defense catapulted him into being one of the most valuable wings in the league, outside of the superstars. His offense was never all that great, but eventually it wasn't half bad. I think Mikal could be that type of player, and he already has the 3 pt shot.

I don't see it. I don't like his athletic makeup at all. Artest was a physical beast and had strong base even in college. I don't think Bridges will test well. Only Trae Young might test worst out of potential lottery picks. I was really underwhelming to find out he is only 6'7" at best. Doesn't seem to have long wingspan, great hops or much strength. And obviously he is skinny as Hell for 22 or whatever he is. I'm not even sure he can handle SF full time in the NBA and handles are weak for a SG. I'd feel a bit better if he was 6'9". He really has nothing going for him physically.

Do your homework- he's got a 7' wingspan. "6-7 guard/forward with elite length, athleticism and skill set"- draftnet.

Might have the length in wingspan, but absolutely does not have elite athleticism or any elite offensive skill besides shooting. If had all that he would be top 5 pick without question.

He kinda reminds me of a poor man's Morris Peterson.

[CoreyVillains]

I mean, he'll probably be a good 4th option type guy, but we're not in a position to value that excessively.

Ugh. Taking Bridges at 7 when all the high upside players are already gone is not “excessively” valuing him.

The only guy in the upside conversation after that 6 is Young. And he’s the definition of a trend pick that is going to blow up in someone’s face. Even with his stats, if it weren’t for Steph Curry no one would consider this guy until the middle of the first round and even then would be crossing their fingers that a small, weak, unauthentic point guard whose game is based on shooting off the dribble from 28 feet, will translate.

The Bulls aren’t going to be a playoff team next year. The rebuild isn’t done after July. If we end up 7th or lower, none of the top 6 guys are there, and Bridges is there, he’s the pick.

I haven't been scouting guys as thoroughly as many of our posters but I don't believe that high upside is a binary thing. There are higher and lower degrees of upside and in my opinion there are several players that should be available at 7 or 8 with higher upside than Mikal Bridges. They include Carter, miles Bridges, SGA Etc.

The fact that you think Miles and SGA have higher upside shows you don’t have an understanding of NBA skill sets vs college skill sets.

[CoreyVillains]

I don't see it. I don't like his athletic makeup at all. Artest was a physical beast and had strong base even in college. I don't think Bridges will test well. Only Trae Young might test worst out of potential lottery picks. I was really underwhelming to find out he is only 6'7" at best. Doesn't seem to have long wingspan, great hops or much strength. And obviously he is skinny as Hell for 22 or whatever he is. I'm not even sure he can handle SF full time in the NBA and handles are weak for a SG. I'd feel a bit better if he was 6'9". He really has nothing going for him physically.

Do your homework- he's got a 7' wingspan. "6-7 guard/forward with elite length, athleticism and skill set"- draftnet.

Might have the length in wingspan, but absolutely does not have elite athleticism or any elite offensive skill besides shooting. If had all that he would be top 5 pick without question.

You’re making a fool of yourself. Quit while you’re ahead. You clearly have shown that you know nothing about him, so do some real research on him and come back. He is an elite finisher and he has excellent athleticism. The only offensive skill that is a legit question mark is his iso ability. He’s improved every year and he has clear transferable NBA skills already. In most NBA drafts he’d easily be a top 5 pick.

[WindyCityBorn]

Ugh. Taking Bridges at 7 when all the high upside players are already gone is not “excessively” valuing him.

The only guy in the upside conversation after that 6 is Young. And he’s the definition of a trend pick that is going to blow up in someone’s face. Even with his stats, if it weren’t for Steph Curry no one would consider this guy until the middle of the first round and even then would be crossing their fingers that a small, weak, unauthentic point guard whose game is based on shooting off the dribble from 28 feet, will translate.

The Bulls aren’t going to be a playoff team next year. The rebuild isn’t done after July. If we end up 7th or lower, none of the top 6 guys are there, and Bridges is there, he’s the pick.

I haven't been scouting guys as thoroughly as many of our posters but I don't believe that high upside is a binary thing. There are higher and lower degrees of upside and in my opinion there are several players that should be available at 7 or 8 with higher upside than Mikal Bridges. They include Carter, miles Bridges, SGA Etc.

The fact that you think Miles and SGA have higher upside shows you don’t have an understanding of NBA skill sets vs college skill sets.

That interesting considering Bridges is totally a system player at Villanova.

[WindyCityBorn]

Do your homework- he's got a 7' wingspan. "6-7 guard/forward with elite length, athleticism and skill set"- draftnet.

Might have the length in wingspan, but absolutely does not have elite athleticism or any elite offensive skill besides shooting. If had all that he would be top 5 pick without question.

You’re making a fool of yourself. Quit while you’re ahead. You clearly have shown that you know nothing about him, so do some real research on him and come back. He is an elite finisher and he has excellent athleticism. The only offensive skill that is a legit question mark is his iso ability. He’s improved every year and he has clear transferable NBA skills already. In most NBA drafts he’d easily be a top 5 pick.

Watch it with the fool talk. Bridges is NOT an elite athlete for an NBA wing or maybe you don't know what one looks like. I have seen plenty of tape on him to form an opinion on that. And no he would not be a top 5 player in most drafts.

[RememberLu]

Why can't Mikal Bridges be a Bradley Beal type in the NBA? He's taller than Beal and defends better but shoots the 3 just as well

[GameBredAPBT]

People's reactions to a player change as often as the wind. One good game, and everyone wants to pick that player. One so-so game by Bridges, and now he's not worth considering. He'll have a great game in the title matchup, and everyone will be wondering if we have enough to trade up to get him.

I seriously doubt you will see any one here dreaming up scenarios to trade up for Mikal Bridges. He is the guy we are trying to avoid being stuck with.

“We” being you and chitownbulls who doesn’t want Doncic because he listens to techno. Almost no one has the aversion to Bridges that you have.

Count me in the anti Bridges category.

I'd draft Trae Young 10/10 times and wouldn't think twice.

[Axolotl]

I think Mikal is a very good bet to be a starting 4th/5th option that you’re very happy about.

But you can’t pass on a player with top 2 option talent. Trae and Doncic check that box for us. If Trae is there, you really have to pull the trigger. If Trae/Doncic are off the board, then I’m fine with Mikal.

This is pretty much how I feel too. If there is star potential available, you take it. Young has that, and Doncic won't be available to us unless we win in the lottery.

Young's court vision, creativity, passing ability and ball skills will translate, and he will be another serious perimeter threat.

If all the top 6 + Young are, gone Mikal is a fine pick. He has abilities that are in high demand and I believe he would be productive right from the start.

[RememberLu]

Young could easily bust, I can just as easily argue that Mikal's defensive ability and ability to space the floor will translate. Out of the two I see Mikal as a surer thing with the higher floor. I'm not on the anti-Trae bandwagon but I'd rather see Mikal on this team. Trae is the flash in the pan flashy thing that could either soar or fizzle out quickly

[WindyCityBorn]

I seriously doubt you will see any one here dreaming up scenarios to trade up for Mikal Bridges. He is the guy we are trying to avoid being stuck with.

“We” being you and chitownbulls who doesn’t want Doncic because he listens to techno. Almost no one has the aversion to Bridges that you have.

Count me in the anti Bridges category.

I'd draft Trae Young 10/10 times and wouldn't think twice.

Nah it just us two bad seeds that don't want Bridges. Every one else can't wait to draft him. God forbid you don't like one single player because he doesn't project as more than a support player. I dont like Trad Young either, but he has a ton more upside than Bridges with much lower floor too. Go for it though. Safe picks just get you to average faster.

[WindyCityBorn]

Young could easily bust, I can just as easily argue that Mikal's defensive ability and ability to space the floor will translate. Out of the two I see Mikal as a surer thing with the higher floor. I'm not on the anti-Trae bandwagon but I'd rather see Mikal on this team. Trae is the flash in the pan flashy thing that could either soar or fizzle out quickly

I don't mind a bust. Rather a potential bust than a guaranteed 4th or 5th option. Can someone explain why the idea of a bust is so terrifying? Half the players in the top 6 will probably disappoint. Busts are inevitable. Philly had plenty of them before landing their stars. The Lakers had a few as well, but are on track.

[RememberLu]

Young could easily bust, I can just as easily argue that Mikal's defensive ability and ability to space the floor will translate. Out of the two I see Mikal as a surer thing with the higher floor. I'm not on the anti-Trae bandwagon but I'd rather see Mikal on this team. Trae is the flash in the pan flashy thing that could either soar or fizzle out quickly

I don't mind a bust. Rather a potential bust than a guaranteed 4th or 5th option.

Mikal could have a very long, very good career in the NBA. Why turn your nose up at someone that could be another Bradley Beal. A better defending version of Beal playing the 2/3 for us could be very good. I'm very impressed by Mikal's improvement from 3pt range and I think he'd fit very well into Fred's system. We need better defenders and we can always use deadeye 3pt shooters

Trae could be the next Jimmer Fredette. We know he can't defend worth a lick in the NBA already, so the only question is if his offense is Steph Curry/James Harden tier to make up for it. I'd rather some other team take that gamble.

[WindyCityBorn]

Young could easily bust, I can just as easily argue that Mikal's defensive ability and ability to space the floor will translate. Out of the two I see Mikal as a surer thing with the higher floor. I'm not on the anti-Trae bandwagon but I'd rather see Mikal on this team. Trae is the flash in the pan flashy thing that could either soar or fizzle out quickly

I don't mind a bust. Rather a potential bust than a guaranteed 4th or 5th option.

Mikal could have a very long, very good career in the NBA. Why turn your nose up at someone that could be another Bradley Beal. A better defending version of Beal playing the 2/3 for us could be very good. I'm very impressed by Mikal's improvement from 3pt range and I think he'd fit very well into Fred's system. We need better defenders and we can always use deadeye 3pt shooters

Trae could be the next Jimmer Fredette. We know he can't defend worth a lick in the NBA already, so the only question is if his offense is Steph Curry/James Harden tier to make up for it. I'd rather some other team take that gamble.

If I actually believed he could be the next Bradley Beal I would have no issue with drafting him. MoPete is my optimistic NBA comparison. He had a decent, long career.

[GameBredAPBT]

“We” being you and chitownbulls who doesn’t want Doncic because he listens to techno. Almost no one has the aversion to Bridges that you have.

Count me in the anti Bridges category.

I'd draft Trae Young 10/10 times and wouldn't think twice.

Nah it just us two bad seeds that don't want Bridges. Every one else can't wait to draft him. God forbid you don't like one single player because he doesn't project as more than a support player. I dont like Trad Young either, but he has a ton more upside than Bridges with much lower floor too. Go for it though. Safe picks just get you to average faster.

Well I do like Trae & think he's a brilliant floor general & a generational passer & shooter. He's a risky pick, but that's what great franchises do: they take risks & don't settle for mediocrity. Trae Young is no mediocre prospect. He's a star by nature.

Bridges is a great talent, but he's no Trae Young.

[Jimako10]

I think Mikal is a very good bet to be a starting 4th/5th option that you’re very happy about.

But you can’t pass on a player with top 2 option talent. Trae and Doncic check that box for us. If Trae is there, you really have to pull the trigger. If Trae/Doncic are off the board, then I’m fine with Mikal.

This is pretty much how I feel too. If there is star potential available, you take it. Young has that, and Doncic won't be available to us unless we win in the lottery.

Young's court vision, creativity, passing ability and ball skills will translate, and he will be another serious perimeter threat.

If all the top 6 + Young are, gone Mikal is a fine pick. He has abilities that are in high demand and I believe he would be productive right from the start.

I feel this way as well, though if we do pick Trae Young, we have to do something with Dunn AND Lavine. I can't imagine a Young-Lavine pairing on defense, not to mention one of them will have to be relegated to a 3rd option on offense, which is an equally terrible idea since Lavine doesn't bring anything else to the table aside from scoring. It seems to me that if GarPax picks Young, then you have to trade Lavine (who doesn't have that much value to begin with because of his looming contract status) and figure out how Dunn fits (maybe off the bench in a Marcus Smart sort of fashion). In the end, it's basically wasting Lavine as an asset from the Butler trade, but it still might be worth it if Young turns into a star.

[League Circles]

Ugh. Taking Bridges at 7 when all the high upside players are already gone is not “excessively” valuing him.

The only guy in the upside conversation after that 6 is Young. And he’s the definition of a trend pick that is going to blow up in someone’s face. Even with his stats, if it weren’t for Steph Curry no one would consider this guy until the middle of the first round and even then would be crossing their fingers that a small, weak, unauthentic point guard whose game is based on shooting off the dribble from 28 feet, will translate.

The Bulls aren’t going to be a playoff team next year. The rebuild isn’t done after July. If we end up 7th or lower, none of the top 6 guys are there, and Bridges is there, he’s the pick.

I haven't been scouting guys as thoroughly as many of our posters but I don't believe that high upside is a binary thing. There are higher and lower degrees of upside and in my opinion there are several players that should be available at 7 or 8 with higher upside than Mikal Bridges. They include Carter, miles Bridges, SGA Etc.

The fact that you think Miles and SGA have higher upside shows you don’t have an understanding of NBA skill sets vs college skill sets.

That's funny cause I haven't followed college basketball in about 25 years.

[CoreyVillains]

I haven't been scouting guys as thoroughly as many of our posters but I don't believe that high upside is a binary thing. There are higher and lower degrees of upside and in my opinion there are several players that should be available at 7 or 8 with higher upside than Mikal Bridges. They include Carter, miles Bridges, SGA Etc.

The fact that you think Miles and SGA have higher upside shows you don’t have an understanding of NBA skill sets vs college skill sets.

That's funny cause I haven't followed college basketball in about 25 years.

That isn’t what I accused you of. Neither of those players have transferable NBA level skills, nor have they displayed reason to believe they have potential to develop them to an adequate enough level that you can justify ranking them higher as prospects.

[CoreyVillains]

Young could easily bust, I can just as easily argue that Mikal's defensive ability and ability to space the floor will translate. Out of the two I see Mikal as a surer thing with the higher floor. I'm not on the anti-Trae bandwagon but I'd rather see Mikal on this team. Trae is the flash in the pan flashy thing that could either soar or fizzle out quickly

I don't mind a bust. Rather a potential bust than a guaranteed 4th or 5th option. Can someone explain why the idea of a bust is so terrifying? Half the players in the top 6 will probably disappoint. Busts are inevitable. Philly had plenty of them before landing their stars. The Lakers had a few as well, but are on track.

That is the viewpoint of an insane person. You don’t mind throwing away a worthwhile asset because other teams did that too? If Philly drafted Porzingis instead of Okafor they’d have been better off. If they drafted Giannis or C.J. McCollum instead of Noel they’d have been better off. Instead they drafted busts and traded them for nothing. Drafting a bust is a very bad thing, it is how you truly keep yourself in NBA hell.

[League Circles]

The fact that you think Miles and SGA have higher upside shows you don’t have an understanding of NBA skill sets vs college skill sets.

That's funny cause I haven't followed college basketball in about 25 years.

That isn’t what I accused you of. Neither of those players have transferable NBA level skills, nor have they displayed reason to believe they have potential to develop them to an adequate enough level that you can justify ranking them higher as prospects.

I have barely watched any of the three, but Mikal seems quite lacking as a ball handler compared to those 2, despite being older. Miles seems much stronger, and perhaps a better athlete.

[CoreyVillains]

Might have the length in wingspan, but absolutely does not have elite athleticism or any elite offensive skill besides shooting. If had all that he would be top 5 pick without question.

You’re making a fool of yourself. Quit while you’re ahead. You clearly have shown that you know nothing about him, so do some real research on him and come back. He is an elite finisher and he has excellent athleticism. The only offensive skill that is a legit question mark is his iso ability. He’s improved every year and he has clear transferable NBA skills already. In most NBA drafts he’d easily be a top 5 pick.

Watch it with the fool talk. Bridges is NOT an elite athlete for an NBA wing or maybe you don't know what one looks like. I have seen plenty of tape on him to form an opinion on that. And no he would not be a top 5 player in most drafts.

I said he is an excellent athlete, which he absolutely is. Forget the fact that he can indeed run and jump very well, but he has absolutely excellent lateral quickness as well. It’s one of the reasons why he’s a lockdown multi-position defender. He’d have been a top 5 prospect in almost every draft this decade.