Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Way too early predictions for the 2018-19 Phoenix Suns

By Adam Maynes

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 03: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on January 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 03: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on January 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 6: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 6: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 6, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Mikal Bridges

Mikal Bridges is in a very interesting position as a rookie.

First off, he appears to be in the perfect  situation. Sure, playing for his hometown Philadelphia 76ers who is about to be a perennial playoff participant would have been great. However coming to Phoenix he will have more time to hone his game and develop without nearly as much pressure to succeed right away.

He too is currently third on the depth chart for small forwards, and considering that Devin Booker can also play the three, Bridges could actually be the fourth.

That said, he is going to be an asset right away because no other young Suns player has either won an NCAA National Championship (which he has done twice) nor played in even three of four possible collegiate seasons.

He is going to be a very mature rookie, something that is going to suit the team well.

Unfortunately I believe that Bridges is going to start out slow, ala 2017-18 Josh Jackson, and other than a game here or there, he will not have a string of double-digit scoring games where he made an impact on victories.

That said, I believe that like Jackson he will turn it around in the second half of the season and will be an impact player, hopefully for a team making at least a slight playoff push.

My bold prediction though is in regards to his shooting: while he will not take probably even half of the number of 3’s that either Devin Booker or Troy Daniels are bound to take, Bridges is going to average over 40% from beyond the arc on at least 200 attempts, something that Davon Reed was unable to even sniff last season, and something that no rookie has ever done in franchise history.

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