Bridges: Belated trade just part of business
Mikal Bridges learned just how much of a business the NBA can be.
Some 20 minutes after his hometown 76ers selected the 6-foot-7 swingman from Villanova with the 10th pick in the NBA Draft Thursday night, Bridges found out that he had been traded to the Phoenix Sun for guard Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first-round draft pick. But not before doing a television interview with his mother Tyneesha Rivers, who just happens to be the vice president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the 76ers’ parent company, followed by a session with the press in which he raved about being drafted by his hometown team.
A lot of people blasted the Sixers and the NBA on social media for allowing Bridges to go through such as awkward situation, especially since Smith knew a deal was in the works.
“My agent said I was getting traded to the Sixers,” said Smith, who was taken No. 16.
Bridges said the trade or the situation didn’t bother him or his mother.
“There’s no disappointment,” Bridges said. “It’s a business. I’m excited to go to Phoenix.”
The selection of Bridges, the Julius Erving Award winner as the top small forward in the country, kicked off a historic night for the Wildcats. He was one of a schoolrecord three players taken in the first round and four Wildcats drafted overall.
Guard Donte DiVincenzo, the Most Outanding Player in the Final Four, went No. 17 to the Milwaukee Bucks. Forward Omari Spellman was the last player taken in the first round. He went No. 30 to the Atlanta Hawks, making him the second straight player from Villanova to go at the last pick in the opening round. The Lakers took Josh Hart at No. 30 last year.
Jalen Brunson, the consensus national Player of the Year, didn’t have to wait long after that to get selected. He went in the second round, No. 33 overall, to the Dallas Mavericks.
It’s the most players Villanova has ever had taken in the first round. The previous high was two when Randy Foye and Kyle Lowry went Nos. 7 and No. 24 in 2006.
“This night is about individual guys having their dreams come true,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “It’s just as fulfilling for me to see them graduate, but this is maybe more important to them. So to see them go through it means a lot.”
The crazy turn of events could not dampen Bridges’ spirits, even though he had to trade in his 76ers hat for a Suns hat and is heading to the desert to play with overall No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton instead of staying home and playing with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
“It’s exciting,” Bridges said. “I dreamed about days like this, nights like this and I’m finally here. I have so much emotion.”
Although the trade ruined a good story line about the local guy making good with the local pro team, Bridges said he was not caught off guard by the move.
“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Bridges said. “I’m close with Donovan Mitchell (of the Utah Jazz). He’s one of my best friends. He was traded (on draft night). He told me all about this. People get traded every day. You’ll never know. I’m excited. I can’t wait to go out to Phoenix.”
DiVincenzo’s rise was even more meteoric than Bridges, who was expected to leave school early when the season began. Not so DiVincenzo. All that changed when the 6-5 guard from Salesianum poured in a career-high 31 points in the national championship game and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
His stock continued to rise through the draft combine and workouts for a number of teams.
“Villanova is the reason I’m sitting in this chair right now,” DiVincenzo said. “Coach Wright and the coaching staff have done a good job developing me as a player and as a young man. Now it’s my job to take everything I’ve learned from Coach Wright and the coaching staff and apply it to myself.”
DiVincenzo only started a few games and that when Phil Booth was sidelined with an injury. He was the first one off the bench and wound up as the Sixth Man of the Year in the Big East and now he gets to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo, better known as the “Greek Freak.”
“Unreal,” DiVincenzo said. “You talk about a superstar, one of the best players in the league right now. Like I said, my job is just to go in there and make sure he has all the confidence in the world when I’m on the court with him.”
Bridges was happy to hear that both Spellman and Brunson were drafted.
“I’m happy for all my boys,” Bridges said. “Where’d Jalen go?”
When he was told Dallas, Bridges said: “He’s going to do great.”