Chicago Bulls: 3 rookies in 2019-20 class Coby White will outshine

2. Jaxson Hayes, Center

Next up on this list is one of multiple prominent former Texas Longhorns in the NBA, and a teammate of Zion with the Pelicans. Former Longhorn standout big man Jaxson Hayes was the pick that came right after Coby in the 2019 NBA Draft, eighth overall. There are attributes that seemingly leap off the page at you (sometimes literally) about Hayes.

But there is also a role that Hayes is likely to fall into that will limit his ceiling with that Pelicans team, and more specifically with where the NBA is headed.

Could Hayes work on his jump shot and start to become a big man with a more well-rounded offensive arsenal?

Sure.

Is that a sure thing?

Absolutely not.

Hayes played in 56 games prior to the hiatus (starting in a dozen of them). He averaged 7.5 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.4 steals. He shot 66.0 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 63.0 percent from the free-throw line. That amounted to an effective field goal percentage of 66.2 and a 67.5 true shooting percentage.

That aforementioned ceiling that could be put on Hayes’ game would be a shame if there is still more potential in his range that is yet to be found. But only 17 percent of his shots so far this season came from further than three-feet from the rim. He has a long way to go before his game moves any further away from the rim.

Moreover, Hayes registered a 0.1 box plus/minus rating, 0.5 value over replacement player rating, .176 win shares per 48 minutes, and a 131 offensive rating/101 defensive rating. Although the advanced metrics made his rookie season look pretty good so far, White’s fit into the modern NBA should allow him to outshine Hayes in the near future.