Getty Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball past James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Former Philadelphia 76ers forward Mikal Bridges caused heartbreak among the Philly faithful in an early-June interaction with a fan on Twitter.
Back on draft night in 2018, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves with the 10th overall selection. With that pick, they chose Bridges, a Villanova standout. Getting drafted by his hometown team was a feel-good moment for the Philly native, but it was short-lived. Not long after the Sixers drafted him, Bridges was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Zhaire Smith and a future first-round pick.
While he resides in Phoenix now, Bridges still has love for Philadelphia sports. He is often on Twitter posting about the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies.
After Bridges tweeted about the Phillies on June 3, a Sixers fan asked him to come back home to Philly. Bridges replied, “I LOVE IT HERE SORRY.” Certainly not the response his fans in Philadelphia wanted to see.
Bridges played in all 82 games for the Suns this season and averaged a career-high 14.2 points per game while being one of the league’s top perimeter defenders.
Fans Still Hurt From Sixers Trading Bridges
Bridges has developed into one of the top three-and-D wings in the league, and fans in Philadelphia still feel the sting of this trade. It doesn’t help that Smith, whom Bridges was traded for, only appeared in 13 games over a span of two seasons before being released.
@Suns @mikal_bridges Congratulations and WOW did the Sixers blow it. Wonder where Ziare Smith is now?
There are many past moves fans still harp on, and this sits atop the list. People on social media are still rehashing how the Sixers made a horrible decision when they agreed to the trade.
One of those days where I can’t stop thinking about how the Sixers traded away Mikal Bridges minutes after drafting him.
“Is a there a Philadelphia area lawyer or law firm that will represent me in what will surely become a class action suit against Brett Brown, Brian Coangelo, Jerry Coangelo and Elton Brand for malfeasance?” actor Gerald Webb commented, referring to the former Sixers head coach, general managers and chairman of basketball operations.
Sixers Need a Player Like Bridges
Most Sixers fans were unhappy with this draft-day trade because Bridges is a local talent, but it runs deeper. In hindsight, the most frustrating aspect is he is the exact kind of player the team needs now.
A case can be made Matisse Thybulle is on par with or even a better defender than Bridges — Statmuse gives Thybulle a defensive rating of 103.1 in 2020-2021 compared with Bridges’ 111.7 — but he is not as effective on the other end of the floor. With Danny Green’s future uncertain after tearing his ACL in Game 6 against the Miami Heat, the Sixers have a shortage of two-way wings.
The start of free agency is still a few weeks away, but rumors are already starting to pour in. Shocking to nobody, the majority of players the Sixers are connected to are floor-spacing wing players. Some of the key names include Orlando Magic forward Gary Harris and Miami Heat veteran PJ Tucker. One analyst also proposed that the Sixers should target OKC Thunder guard Lu Dort via trade.
In today’s game, high-quality perimeter defenders who can also shoot efficiently from deep are worth their weight in gold. As Daryl Morey attempts to bolster the Sixers’ supporting cast this summer, adding players like this will likely be his top priority.