NBA Draft 2019: Mock Draft 5.0
125. . Big, Fr.. Texas. Jaxson Hayes. 8. player
After measuring well at the combine and finishing the season strong, Jaxson Hayes has a strong case to be the first big man drafted. The Hawks could be short a center with DeWayne Dedmon hitting free agency and Hayes is a system fit.
The Hawks are a transition team that enjoys pushing the tempo and spacing the floor. While Hayes doesn’t shoot, he’s an excellent screen-and-roll big, constantly rim-running and offering another lob threat alongside John Collins. Add in his rim protection, and he fits Atlanta’s needs quite well.
Despite a limited role at Texas, Hayes also showed flashes as a passer, which is a valuable skill at the five. He’s mobile enough to defend in space, checks the right boxes on offense, and solves a depth concern. Hayes feels like a natural choice for the Hawks.