Welcome to my first post on The Bench Warmer, I want to share my thoughts on the ever-changing and growing world of sports. I hope to inform many readers while also hearing many of your comments on what I need to cover or improve on. Enjoy the free content and please share what you read so my content can reach as many people as possible.

I want to look back on the 2018 NBA draft and see which teams found players that fit their systems well and have the chance to provide impact in year one. Here are three players that you will see perform well this next season.

Aaron Holiday

PG – Indiana Pacers

My personal favorite for a breakout season for the Indiana Pacers, the 23rd overall pick from UCLA is a pure scorer. He averaged 20.3 ppg his last season in college. With a solid handle and the ability to find holes in the defense, Holiday is sure to have a multitude of double-digit outbursts this season.

Holiday is creative with the ball in his hands and possesses the ability to make quick decisions whether it’s to pull up from three, cut to the basket or pass to a wing for another shot. A career 42% three point shooter in three seasons at UCLA, shooting just over four threes a game, he isn’t afraid to pull up from the top of the arc. The point guard uses the pick-and-roll to his advantage, especially when a defender comes around too slow, Holiday will look for a bucket.

At 6-1 and 185 pounds, he possesses good, not great size for a point guard. He will have to hit the weight room this offseason to continue to drive to the basket, as well as cover taller guards such as Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving. He does have good speed, which will help him keep up with opposing guards and blow by defenders. His ability to find teammates for scoring opportunities has gotten better, with his assist numbers improving each season to a solid 5.8 APG his final season. However, he does tend to rush passes and hold the ball too long, as evident by his 3.8 turnovers a game his junior year, which will need work.

What I like about his odds in Indiana is the backcourt in front of him. Darren Collison, who has bounced around the league, has always been a solid option for teams at point-guard. Just like Holiday, Collison is a scoring first guard that has the ability to fill up the stat sheet while still finding his teammates. But as Collison continues to age, and his contract ends after this next season, it opens the door to minutes and endless opportunities for Holiday. Also, with Victor Oladipo running the 2-guard spot after an all-star season, and new signing Tyreke Evans will take the pressure off Holiday, and help facilitate as well. I like the point guard’s odds to take over in Indiana sooner rather than later.

Collin Sexton

PG – Cleveland Cavaliers

You’re going to be hard-pressed to find a player who works at his game harder than the Cavaliers eighth overall pick, Collin Sexton. The point guard from Alabama plays with a sense of fire, and a speed that is comparable to the 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook. But the comparisons go much farther. Westbrook came out of UCLA with scouts clamoring over his athleticism and ability to score, but just like Sexton, he was criticized for his inconsistent jump shot and ability to create for others.

Sexton has heard the criticism though and has already shown improvement in this years NBA Summer League as his shot from outside has improved, and his pull-up jumper looks better. He has also changed his free-throw mechanics which shows with a higher percentage at the line. His assists have risen almost every game, and his teammates are benefiting from quick passes. He has shown the ability to get others involved, but take over when he is needed. This was evident in the summer league semifinal when Sexton pulled his team back to tie the game with the Lakers late in the fourth and sent the game to not just one, but two overtimes. He finished the game with 27 points but also locked down Lakers leader Josh Hart when his team needed him at the end of the game. His intensity could be seen on final possession by the Lakers.

In the post-Lebron era for the Cavaliers, the team will look for a star to fill the void, and the is exactly what the team prepared for when drafting the lightning-fast guard. They will likely look to move George Hill as well Kevin Love and other key members to rebuild rather than attempt to compete. This will give Sexton the opportunity to have plenty of playing time to play through mistakes and master his craft. Sexton has the chance to be the best player in this draft, and his Westbrook-like ability will help him punish defenders and get buckets. Move over Bron, there is a new guy in town and he goes by the name “Young Bull.”

Miles Bridges

SF – Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte may be confused about whether to compete or go full-on rebuild mode, but they did take a step in the right direction with their pick, Miles Bridges from Michigan State. The forward had the chance to be a lottery selection last season as a freshman but decided to return to improve his game and help lead the Spartans. However, after a few knocks on his game, Bridges stock did slip some, but he was still able to hear his name called in the lottery of the draft this year.

The Hornets just wrapped up their sixth season with MKG running the third spot, as well as Batum taking his turns. Quite frankly the pair has been inefficient for the majority of the time, and lack the ability to score like the Hornets need. Batum is valuable at times, as a swiss army knife, providing help in different facets of the game, but lacks the scoring ability he had in Portland. Bridges provides the explosion and athleticism that MKG brought into the league, along with a jump shot and three-point ability Buzz City has desperately lacked. Even Malik Monk, last years pick couldn’t knock shots down until late in the season.

Kemba Walker needs scorers around him to relieve pressure, and Bridges will provide that scoring wing pair for the UConn product and All-star. Bridges averaged 17.0 PPG for his career at Michigan State with a 47.0 field goal percentage and a solid 38.0 percent clip from downtown. Bridges will find playing time early if he is able to knock down threes at an efficient rate and create for a bottom of the league offense. Capitalizing on his athleticism will be a major key as the forward’s body is NBA ready and will withstand the physicality of the NBA. He has already thrown down some memorable slams this summer league, and almost finished on this self alley-oop.

I like Bridges to provide a nice combo with Kemba as the season progresses, and if the Monk can return in year-two and play like he showed early in the summer league, the Hornets may have a legitimate offense.