NBA Draft 2018: 5 players that could exceed their draft expectations

3. Miles Bridges, Michigan State

Michigan State Spartans forward Miles Bridges is sitting on the fence of being a potential lottery pick but his selection could land him on a potential playoff contender in the end. Bridges brings strength and athleticism on the wing at 6-foot-6 and 220-pounds along with versatility on the defensive end as well.

He averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in two seasons at Michigan State. He started in all but two of the 62 games he appeared in for the Spartans despite his youth and inexperience. His ability to finish at the rim and ability to shoot can make him a solid role player for teams looking to improve in the league.

Given his bulk, Bridges also has the ability to play and defend on the interior. Teams with a small ball approach should be aggressive in obtaining him on draft night. He also shot 36.4% from behind the 3-point arc in 2017-18.

Depending on the situation he can play either forward position or the off-guard position. Bridges’ ability to play and guard both ways certainly helps elevate his profile as positionless basketball is becoming more and more prevalent. He should be a mid-first-round selection on Thursday night.