With one more year guaranteed for the 2018 draft class, what does Mikal Bridges need to do to take the next steps that lead to an extension with the Phoenix Suns.
The two major acquisitions for the Phoenix Suns in the 2018 draft were Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges. With a decision to be made on whether to extend or not, let’s look at what they need to do in year-3. While my previous one analyzes Ayton, this one will focus on Bridges.
Bridges was drafted to be a 3-and-D wing, offering to spread the floor and help defensively with his length and athleticism. While not an exceptional scorer, he scored more than 17 points in his third and final season at Villanova while shooting more than 43% from 3-point territory, showing he could score when called upon. Likewise, averaging nearly two assists, two steals, and a block per game led one to believe Mikal would stuff the stat sheet at the next level, as a guy doing a bit of everything.
Over two seasons with the Suns, it has been the little things across the stat line that have endeared Bridges to many Suns fans. With 2 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game averages across his two professional seasons, Bridges has demonstrated many of the defensive strengths that led to the Phoenix Suns trading for the 10th pick during the 2018 draft. With per 36-minute averages even higher, Mikal has done the dirty work as advertised. However, that same shooting stroke that led to his scoring jump as a junior for the Wildcats has yet to emerge at the next level.
Bridges has gone through a couple of alterations of his mechanics that have at times left him hesitant from distance. As we all know, any hesitation at the top-level leads to lost opportunities and missed shots.
The good news is that Bridges is clearly adapting, having taken less 3-pointers during his second season per game, but more total field goals, as he looked to attack the rim more. Taking more shots closer to the basket, brought his overall FG% up to 52% on over six attempts per game. Considering almost 2.5 of those shots were 3s at his 35% clip, it shows the growing strength of Bridges’ game inside the 3-point stripe.
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While many of his statistics – including minutes – were down in year two – and his turnovers increased slightly – Bridges showed he can stick in rotation and play a part in the Suns’ continued rise toward prominence. If Mikal can continue to grow his game inside the stripe where his length and hops can create mismatches with defenders, it will help his outside shooting. If defenders have to play for both the drive and the shot, the offensive player is at the advantage.
Of course, both of those steps depend on continued improvement in the consistency of his 3-point shot. While athletic, Mikal isn’t quick enough to just blow by defenders, so he needs his 3-point shot to be respected as a weapon to open up the rest of his game.
Defensively, Bridges needs to continue to get stronger so he can handle more switches on the interior defensively and keep offensive players off the glass to create room for Deandre Ayton to gobble up rebounds. Bridges also needs to continue to stop thinking on the defensive end and just play, which should come with a second season in Monty Williams’ scheme.
The bottom line is Bridges is clearly on the path to having this 4th year team option picked up, but to land the kind of extension he is looking for, his overall offensive game needs to take a similar step as it did in his third year at Villanova. If that can happen, Bridges can land a nice extension and be part of a bright future with the Phoenix Suns.