2019 NBA Mock Draft: Post-NBA Draft Combine Edition
C. Texas. Jaxson Hayes. player. 125. Scouting Report. 10. Pick Analysis
Pre-Draft Lottery Projection: 9 (-1)
Ten picks in now, Jaxson Hayes is the first player going to the team we originally projected to take him (albeit at a different pick number). If that doesn’t prove how drastic the changes to the draft lottery have shaken up the league, I’m not sure what will.
Another year, another highly touted Texas big man. Hayes is set to join Myles Turner, Jarrett Allen, and Mo Bamba as the fourth big man out of Texas to be taken in the first round in the last five years. If his company is any indication, that’s a good sign.
At the risk of sounding redundant, Hayes is really good at this whole defense thing. For a team jam-packed with explosive offensive talent, Hayes is the anchor Atlanta needs on the other side of the ball. Hayes swatted away 3.8 shots per 40 minutes while also leading the nation in true shooting percentage. The Hawks grab a great complementary piece for their rebuild here at the tenth selection.
Gonzaga. Brandon Clarke. Scouting Report. SG/SF/PF. 11. player. 86. Pick Analysis
Pre-Draft Lottery Projection: 11
Brace yourselves advanced stat nerds, I present your prince charming: Brandon Clarke. In his first year after transferring from San José State to Gonzaga, Clarke led the country in field goal percentage, blocks, win shares, offensive rating and defensive rating. He finished second in PER, effective field goal percentage, and box plus/minus (behind only Zion Williamson).
Clarke asserted himself as one of the best players in the nation while leading Gonzaga to the Elite 8. He didn’t stop impressing scouts there though; he dominated the draft combine by leading all frontcourt players in max vertical and placing top two in both the standing vertical and lane agility drills.
His mixture of basketball awareness, athletic ability and positional versatility make Clarke a perfect fit for a team with a lot more questions than answers.