NEW YORK _ The emotions on NBA draft night for Villanova's Mikal Bridges shifted dramatically from elation to confusion.
The Wildcats' All-America guard was selected No. 10 by the 76ers, the fourth lottery pick in the history of the Villanova program. But sometime near the end of his news conference when he talked about how "awesome" and "what a blessing" it was to be staying home, ESPN reported he was being traded to the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns selected Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith in order to send him to the Sixers in exchange for Bridges and a first-round pick in 2021.
Bridges was hustled from one off-limits area of Barclays Center to another, and not immediately available for comment.
Villanova guard Donte DiVincenzo went No. 17 to the Milwaukee Bucks, giving the Wildcats two first-round picks for the first time since Randy Foye (No. 7) and Kyle Lowry (No. 24) were drafted in 2006.
Villanova coach Jay Wright said he learned of the Bridges trade in a text from Suns general manager Ryan McDonough while Bridges was at his news conference.
"He text me and said, 'We just traded for Mikal,' " Wright said. "So it was kind of a shock, but it's the business. We do tell all the guys going into the draft, 'Expect anything.'
"It's funny. Mikal's (position) seemed so defined when we started it and Donte's seemed all over the board. It was so simple. So all of our guys learned a great lesson from this. I hope they're prepared for that. There's no one that's probably more prepared for this than Mikal."
It was hard not to like the Bridges hometown story. He was born in Philadelphia, played at Great Valley High School in Malvern, and starred at Villanova, which played its home games last season at the Wells Fargo Center, home of the Sixers.
His mother, Tyneeha Rivers, is a global vice president of human resources at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, owned by Sixers co-owner Josh Harris.
DiVincenzo spent his first hour at the draft ready to celebrate Bridges' selection, and he congratulated him with an extended hug after Bridges' name was called. It didn't take long for DiVincenzo to be taken by the Bucks.
"I was so excited to hear Mikal get his name called and I saw the moment he shared with Coach Wright," he said. "Shortly after, I got to share that exact same moment. Honestly, I think I'll share that moment and that bond with Coach Wright forever."
DiVincenzo said he visited Milwaukee late in the draft process but did not work out, instead speaking to head coach Mike Budenholzer, members of the front office, and guard Malcolm Brogdon.
"Malcolm was there working out and I got to talk to him a little bit," he said. "Everybody was just welcoming. Everybody was great. They were great people. They took great interest in me. They treated me great there and I'm thankful to be a part of their organization.
"They're a playoff team, and they're a team on the rise. My job is to just come in there with no ego and be the hardest worker and build confidence in the people around me."
.jpg?w=600)
