Charlotte – The Charlotte Hornets are slated to pick number eleven in this year’s NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak was eager to note that the team will be able to obtain a good player with the pick. He is right. A good player added to the current roster does not win a first round series in a very young and upcoming eastern conference. However, it does sway the needle in the right direction. The Hornets have a lot of needs that will take more than one off-season to fill. Mitch Kupchak is looking for another building block to pair with Malik Monk for the future of this team. Miles Bridges is an interesting building block that may be around when the Hornets are called to make their pick.
The 6’6 forward from Michigan State went 30-5 during his two year career at Michigan State and is quickly rising up mock draft boards. Averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds last season, Bridges has the ability to create off the dribble, knock down the 15 footer and hit the open three when called upon.
More importantly, at 225 lbs Bridges has a body built from the NBA and the toughness needed to play against today’s hybrid NBA forwards such as Jason Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant; guys who aren’t going anywhere for a very long time.
The Hornets passed on NBA Rookie of the Year candidate Donovan Mitchell in the 2017 NBA draft. The Hornets must get its 2018 pick right in what could be long time point guard Kemba Walker’s final season in a Hornets uniform.
