NBA mock drafts: Michigan State's Jaren Jackson Jr., Miles Bridges look to be top-10 picks

In the NBA mock drafts published before Tuesday's NBA lottery, it was much harder to pin down a number of positions because a) the season was still going and b) there were plenty of moving parts for slots, top-three protected, top-one protected, and so forth.

But in most of those, Michigan State stars Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges were projected as lottery picks, and that likely won't change moving forward. If anything, both players have seen slight ticks upward in those NBA draft projections.

Although the duo didn't participate in the 5-on-5 portion of this week's NBA draft combine, they were in Chicago for the festivities.

With that in mind, let's see where NBA draft experts expect Jackson and Bridges to play in the NBA, especially with the lottery order now set.

 • Sports Illustrated has Jackson going to the Hawks at No. 3 and Bridges to the 76ers (courtesy of a trade from Lakers) at No. 10. Writer Jeremy Woo didn't hold the fact that Jackson sat the bench at crunch time vs. Syracuse in the NCAA tournament (for Ben Carter, no less) against him. Writes Woo on Jackson:

Jackson is extremely young for his class, and while he’s not as offensively polished or ready for the NBA, he possesses a critical duality for modern bigs: he can step out and shoot from outside, while also defending in space and protecting the rim. Jackson needs to mature physically and mentally before he can become a mainstay, but has improved at a rapid rate over the last couple years.

Woo says that Bridges is an ideal fit for the 76ers and #TheProcess, who took a huge leap forward this season.

The Sixers ... could use an athlete like him to help run the floor. While questions remain about how good of a shooter Bridges actually is and how much of a defensive plus he can become, he’s extremely athletic and has the makings of a utility-type combo forward. ... Bridges could benefit from reimagining himself as a high-energy glue guy.

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 • Shortly after the NBA draft lottery Tuesday, The Ringer did a live mock draft, with the Hawks taking Jackson at 3 and the Chicago Bulls (where former MSU star Denzel Valentine plays) drafting Bridges at No. 7. Jonathan Tjarks called Jackson "a good foundational piece" while saying Bridges is "a solid young wing to put around Lauri (Markkanen). Miles is a safe pick."

• SB Nation's Ricky O'Donnell has the Hawks taking Jackson at No. 3, emphasizing the Hoosier native's skill set, which fits into the current NBA structure better than any other big in this class. 

The NBA demands modern centers to be able to stretch the floor, block shots and defend on the perimeter. Jackson has shown the ability to do all three.

Despite the fact that O'Donnell doesn't believe Bridges improved at all from his freshman to sophomore year, the Flint native still has plenty of game. 

He’s an explosive athlete at 6’6, 230 pounds, a solid jump shooter and rebounder, and has flashed some playmaking ability potential. He’s one of the premier wings in this draft.

 • Gary Parrish of CBS Sports isn't as high on either player, with Jackson going to the Dallas Mavericks at No. 5 and Bridges to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 11.

Parrish on Jackson: 

He didn't produce at Michigan State the way so many other heralded freshmen produced ... The 6-11 forward often struggled with foul trouble. That's a concern. But his physical tools are undeniable. And the potential for stardom is clearly there considering Jackson is A) a top-shelf athlete, B) somebody who shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc, and C) an asset, in a variety of ways, on the defensive end of the court.

Like a lot of the talk about Tom Izzo's lineup choices entering the NCAA tournament, Parrish believes that Bridges' future is as a power forward.

But stressing too much about that is probably overthinking it because the 6-6 sophomore is an explosive athlete who can pass and shoot and guard multiple positions. ... In a mostly position-less NBA, I'm comfortable trusting the former Big Ten star will figure things out.

 • nbadraft.net has Jackson going to Memphis at No. 4 and Bridges to the Clippers at No. 13.

Follow digital sports producer Phil Friend on Twitter @Phil_Friend.