By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Staff 
With the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft , the Philadelphia 76ers selected Villanova forward Mikal Bridges. At the time of the Sixers' selection, Bridges was on the board along with Michael Porter Jr. and Zhaire Smith, who worked out twice for the organization prior to the draft. In the end, the Sixers opted to go with hometown talent in Bridges, a guy who should fit in right away.
.@mikal_bridges (and @tyneeha) speaks with @ESPN's @MariaTaylor7 after being selected with the 10th overall pick.#HereTheyCome x #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/2oICxO5fys
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) June 22, 2018
In 40 games this past season for National Champion Villanova, Bridges averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and shot 51.4 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. In Bridges, the Sixers get a guy who can fit in right away. He's widely considered to be an effective 3-and-D player, able to shoot from both mid-range and three-point range.
“When I was younger, my mom, my dad, my grandparents would always take me to games,” Bridges told NBC Sports Philadelphia after his pre-draft workout. “It's really cool seeing what they've been doing and how well-coached they are and how hard they play, how talented they are. It would just be the perfect fit.”
Here's the DraftExpress/ESPN scouting video on Bridges:
Leading into the draft, the Sixers were most closely connected to Bridges, Kentucky's Kevin Knox, Texas Tech's Zhaire Smith and Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. Knox went to the Knicks at No. 9. while Michael Porter Jr. was reportedly a serious consideration for Philadelphia, but ultimately Bridges was deemed the best fit, per Draft Express. Porter Jr. ended up getting picked 14th by the Nuggets.
Although a number of fans would have liked to see the Sixers take Michael Porter Jr., they get a two-time champion in Bridges, a pedigree he wants to continue in the NBA.
Mikal Bridges won it all at Villanova. Now he wants to bring that same winning mentality to the NBA. #nbadraft pic.twitter.com/oeGidcZ03N
— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoNBCS) June 21, 2018
The top-10 featured one big trade featuring Euroleague star Luca Doncic. Before we got to pick number two, news surfaced that the Hawks were trading the third pick to Dallas for the fifth pick and a future first-rounder. Atlanta went on to pick Luka Doncic, who was then sent to Dallas in exchange for Trae Young, selected fifth overall by the Mavericks.
The Sixers have four more picks in the draft, with the next one coming at No. 26 in the first-round.
