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Mikal Bridges the next Cavalier?

By Brandon Maraldo

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 28: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats attempts the steal from Khadeen Carrington #0 of the Seton Hall Pirates on February 28, 2018 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 69-68 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 28: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats attempts the steal from Khadeen Carrington #0 of the Seton Hall Pirates on February 28, 2018 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Seton Hall Pirates 69-68 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers could get themselves a nice consolation prize in the 2018 NBA Draft in Villanova’s Mikal Bridges.

The Brooklyn Nets looks like they will end the season in the five to eight range in the draft. This could mean the Cleveland Cavaliers could miss out on top talent like Luka Doncic and DeAndre Ayton should be off the board when the Cavs are on the clock in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Nonetheless, just because you don’t get one of those two doesn’t mean they won’t be able to get a good player who can contribute right away.

One of those guys that could help contribute right away is Villanova star Mikal Bridges.

This season the redshirt junior has averaged 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He has also been extremely efficient in doing so. He is shooting 51.2 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from three for 84.8 percent from the free-throw line and a true shooting percentage of 65.4 percent.

Bridges is best known for his three-and-D ability at Villanova. He is a long and athletic wing standing at 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. He has the ability to switch on to multiple positions, which is an important ability in today’s NBA.

He would be a welcomed addition to a Cavaliers team that has struggled to defend for most if not all of the regular season.

The Cavaliers did trade for Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson at the trade deadline and they have rookie Cedi Osman on the roster — young wing players — but none of them have the defensive reputation that Bridges’ does.

Bridges has improved in each of his seasons at Villanova. Per 40 minutes, over the past three seasons he scored 12.5, 13.1 and this season an impressive 22.2 points per game. As previously mentioned, he’s shooting 43.6 percent this season on three-point attempts, which is up from 39.3 percent last season.

While Bridges has spent multiple years in college and that seems to be a knock on players, it shouldn’t always be that way. Guys like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Jimmy Butler spent multiple seasons in college. Those guys are probably the top guys in the NBA in the three-and-D category.

I’m not sure if Bridges will ever become that level of player but he could, for sure.

In Butler’s final year on campus, he scored 18.2 points per 40 minutes while shooting 49 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three.

George averaged 20.2 points on 42.4 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three.

Leonard averaged 19 points on 44.4 percent from the field and 29.1 percent from three.

Plus, with his time in college, Bridges could be more likely to come in and contribute right away, even though rookies don’t typically make huge impacts (the 2017 NBA Draft class has been special).

Villanova will take on Kansas today in the Final Four. So, take a look at this potential top ten pick and his ability on both ends of the floor.

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*All stats gathered via: www.kenpom.com; www.sports-reference.com; www.espn.com