NBA

Sixers Select Villanova's Mikal Bridges With No. 10 Pick in 2018 NBA Draft, Then Trade Him

So much for being the City of Brotherly Love. 

The Sixers drafted Villanova product Mikal Bridges with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. However, a short time later they sent Bridges to Phoenix for No. 16 pick Zhaire Smith and a 2021 Miami first-round selection.

Bridges was picked 10th overall and the Villanova standout answered questions at Barclays Center about his move down the road before he was swapped to the Suns. The Suns had picked Smith, a forward from Texas Tech, with the 16th overall pick. The Sixers also acquired an unprotected 2021 first-round pick in the trade.

Bridges had a short-lived happy homecoming. The Villanova Wildcats national championship forward played all their home games last season in the same arena as the Sixers and his mother works in human resources for the franchise's parent company.

The high-flying Smith worked out twice for the franchise during the pre-draft process. 

Smith averaged 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists a game as a freshman for Texas Tech in 2017-18. The 19-year-old was also extremely efficient as he shot 55.6 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from three-point range. 

While Smith’s calling cards are athleticism and defense, he was able to show the Sixers enough as a playmaker during those two workouts for them to make a move. 

“I wanted to show my ability to shoot the ball, play-make, bring the ball up, coming off screens and making the right decisions,” Smith said after his first workout at the team’s training complex.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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