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Philadelphia 76ers: It’s a big, but worthwhile, gamble to trade Mikal Bridges

By John W. Butler III

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 13: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats looks on against the Temple Owls at the Liacouras Center on December 13, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 13: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats looks on against the Temple Owls at the Liacouras Center on December 13, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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After selecting Mikal Bridges with the 10th pick, the Philadelphia 76ers had to move him to Phoenix in a trade that could pay dividends in a few years

Mikal Bridges received a crash course on the business side of the NBA on draft night. The former Villanova standout was selected by his hometown Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 10 pick. His mom is the team’s vice president of human resources. It seemed like the perfect scenario, until he was traded to the Phoenix Suns within the hour.

Talk about heartbreaking. Philadelphia pulled the trigger on the deal while the 6-foot-7 small forward was in the middle of his first press conference as a Sixer.

Bridges seemed like he would have fit perfectly in Philadelphia. He is an efficient shooter and would have made an impact as a wing defender. Not to mention, he has a winning attitude after being a part of two championship teams in the last three seasons at Nova.

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Fans are scratching their heads as to why Bridges was traded for Zhaire Smith out of Texas Tech. There are a few possibilities that could be monumental for Philadelphia in the long run. Smith was drafted six spots behind Bridges at No. 16, which will save the Sixers approximately $1.7 million in cap space.

Every dollar counts if Philadelphia is going to make a push to sign LeBron James or any superstar free agent this offseason.

Zhaire Smith wasn’t as highly-coveted as Bridges heading into the draft. In his freshman year at Texas Tech, he averaged just 11 points per game and less than two assists a night. Still, he made a great impression around the NBA.

The Lakers were enamored with Smith according to reports. He was always on the Sixers radar as well. Philadelphia brought him in for a second workout prior to the draft. There’s definitely the possibility of a high ceiling for Smith, but the Sixers will have to play the waiting game.

The answer to whether or not this trade was the right move for the Sixers will have to wait even longer. The biggest component of the deal is that Philadelphia will receive the Miami Heat’s unprotected 2021 first-round draft pick. In three years the Sixers could be adding a lottery pick to play alongside Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and possibly LeBron James.

Of course we don’t know what the Heat will look like over the next few seasons. They could be one of the worst teams in the league or a mediocre playoff squad, which will determine whether or not the Sixers’ acquired pick will fall in the lottery. Philadelphia could also package that pick in a trade over the next few years to secure guaranteed talent.

Must Read: NBA Free Agency: Ranking the top 35 free agents of the 2018 offseason

The immediate winner from this surprise deal has to be the Phoenix Suns. Bridges is a solid piece who’s ready to play right away. He’ll be on the floor with the No. 1 pick DeAndre Ayton and scoring machine Devin Booker. But long term, this could be one of the most savvy and calculated moves the Philadelphia 76ers have made over the past few seasons.