2019 NBA Draft: Full Mock Draft 1.0 – Pelicans take 3-and-D wing

#9. Atlanta Hawks (Via Dallas Mavericks): Jaxson Hayes, C

School: Texas | Class: Freshman | Height: 6’11″ | Weight: 220 | Age: 18

The Hawks are slotted to have two top ten picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, and they can take advantage of pick #9 by taking a shot on Jaxson Hayes from Texas.

Hayes is extremely skilled for his size and can put the ball on the court when he needs to, which is a rare trait for many other near-7 footers. He’s a little too lanky for his height, but he’s only 18 years old. Give him a couple of years and Jaxson has the tools to turn into an awesome modern NBA center.

For the Hawks, they’d add him to their already fantastic young core of Trae Young, John Collins, and (in this mock draft) Cam Reddish. All four of these players can be on the court at the same time, which adds even more credibility to the idea of selecting Hayes with this pick. Four talented players like Young, Collins, Reddish, and Hayes would likely be able to get the Hawks back into perennial relevancy sooner rather than later.