NBA: Ceilings, floors, and comparisons for the 2019 draft lottery picks
By Cole Raines
After trading down, the Pelicans took Jaxson Hayes, a rim protecting center from Texas, with the 8th pick.
One of the more gifted and talented big men in the draft, the Pelicans were searching for a center to put next to Zion, and Hayes was their guy. A good shot blocker, and one of the longer wingspans, he will certainly have a role on NBA teams. His ceiling would be a rim protecting, defensive minded center on a championship team playing next to a ball dominant superstar. Similar to most of the lottery picks, there is a role for him on any NBA team, the worst case scenario for Hayes is a backup center that is used to defend some of the better offensive big men in the league.
NBA comparison: Javale McGee
McGee is a little taller and has a longer wingspan, but Hayes showed his ability to block shots, and rim runs at Texas. Similar to McGee when he came into the league, the talent and athleticism is there, but it needs to be molded.