NBA Draft 2019: Mock Draft 3.0

Jaxson Hayes has been trending up in mocks, cracking the top ten of most popular mock drafts. It is somewhat shocking to see him still available, but leave it to the Spurs to mine value from a late first-rounder.

Hayes is very much a project, but the potential results are tantalizing. The son of a former NFL player and college basketball standout, Hayes is an elite athletic specimen. He also grew almost a foot in high school. Not only was he a multi-sport athlete before his growth forced him to commit to basketball, he is still getting used to life in that body.

NBA scouts are banking that Hayes’ skills will continue to grow into his massive upside. With a singular focus and improved coordination, he could become a true two-way threat.

Hayes’ impressive physique and athleticism allow him to be both an excellent floor-runner and physical finisher. His massive 7’3.5” wingspan and high-primacy defense suggest potentially elite shot-swatting.

He is still very raw, and in addition to developing his newly-grown frame, can also polish his fundamentals on both sides of the floor. He may also be limited in terms of shot range and playmaking ability, but his ceiling as a neo-DeAndre Jordan has to intrigue GMs.

Despite his roughness around the edges, there is still so much potential for Hayes. He just turned 19 last month, and has just a couple years of basketball-only training under his belt. Combine that learning curve with his apex DNA, and this pick has all the makings of a post-lottery steal.