Jaxson Hayes‘ rookie and sophomore years for the New Orleans Pelicans have been pretty turbulent, to say the least.
The athletic center went ninth in the 2019 draft in a year where New Orleans altered the trajectory of their franchise. Along with rookies Zion Williamson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hayes signified a changing of the guard and a sign of things to come.
However, compared to his draft classmates, Hayes’ career to date is a mixed bag. Earlier this month, we spoke about Hayes and his development.
While Williamson turned into a franchise cornerstone and Alexander-Walker continues to earn consistent minutes while looking like a future starting guard, Hayes’ consistency and understanding of the game wavered for a season and a half. Roughly twenty games into the season, Hayes lost his backup role to Willy Hernangómez.
In those minutes, Hernangómez’s strengths overshadowed Hayes. Albeit being an efficient post technician and rebounder, his physical limitations capped the potential of the bench unit as a defensive force. Shortly after Hayes’ demotion, Stan Van Gundy quickly realized that Hayes’ potential was too much to limit him to a reserve role.
Unlike most young players, Hayes took the demotion in stride. He soaked in all the action from afar and used it to gather his thoughts and process the game. The time was invaluable as he learned the nuances of rotations and defensive scheming, critical components of any Van Gundy team.
Since then, Hayes has redeemed himself and is starting to show the potential that has had fans so excited at different times over the last two seasons.
New Orleans Pelicans: Jaxson Hayes is making up for lost time
Since his eventual promotion back to being a backup centre, Hayes showed why he was so highly touted. Hayes has the best defensive percentage points differential on the team from March until now, holding players to 11 percent less than their average. His length alone is disruptive, but Hayes is growing in discipline.
The biggest flaw with young bigs is they try to contest every shot, regularly conceding offensive rebounds. Hayes’ defensive boxout percentage increased significantly throughout the season. Since March, his rate is up three percent.
Boxing out is a lost art due to the social media era where blocks and highlight plays mean more to casual fans than hustle plays. Understanding the importance of this defensive attention cannot be understated. For a player as athletic as Hayes, creating solid defensive foundations will only serve him and the franchise better as they move forward.
Along with his increased defensive output, Hayes’ offense is slowly developing. As seen during April, Hayes is willing to shoot corner threes. All of his seven attempts have come since the start of the month. In-game, it is obvious Hayes is taking note.
As you can see in the clip above, Hayes naturally drifts out to the arc and shoots without hesitation. His form has never been broken, and he continues to refine it, indicated by his 76 percent free throw percentage. The willingness to become a shooter provides Van Gundy with flexibility at the forward spot.
With James Johnson missing time periodically, Hayes stepped into the role and, along with Adams, became a menacing interior presence. Without Hayes being confident in his shooting prowess, the lineup would struggle for spacing and hamper the fluidity in the offense the New Orleans Pelicans struggle with at times.
New Orleans Pelicans: What can Jaxson Hayes be?
Hayes’ development cannot be understated. Within a few months, he has gone from a bench warmer to a key cog. The flashes he previously showed are now stretches of consistent play. Most importantly, his defense continues to improve and excel.
Although his offense is drastically better, there is no doubt Hayes will gain notoriety through becoming a lockdown defender. The size, length, and athleticism are there, but now the skill and understanding are catching up.
Only three months ago, I was certain the New Orleans Pelicans should trade Hayes. Now I firmly believe he is indispensable. The road map to becoming a better version of Clint Capela or similar to Myles Turner is there. It seems like he has the raw skills of both guys before they were refined.
The rebounding does need to improve, and there are certain aspects of his game that remind me so much of Willie Cauley-Stein and young Javale McGee. However, it seems like the situation and tutelage from Steven Adams will only bring the best out of him.
Do I think he can become a star? Potentially. To become one, he will have to hit the defensive heights of Rudy Gobert. If not, I can easily see him becoming a top ten center in the league and being the third option on a title team for a franchise like New Orleans that is banking on this young talent to move with Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
New Orleans’ core is developing at its own rate but is flashing signs of greatness. Hayes’ rollercoaster sophomore year brought plenty of anguish, but as he turns the corner, Hayes can be the New Orleans Pelicans’ next star.