2019 NBA Mock Draft: Searching for clarity two weeks from draft night
. C. Texas. Jaxson Hayes. 14. player. 18
After drafting Robert Williams III last year, the Celtics don’t have an immediate need for a big man like Hayes. However, we expect them to continue to pursue Anthony Davis regardless of the outcome of Kyrie Irving’s free agency, meaning Williams becomes a nice trade piece and could allow them to keep the 14th pick.
Boston, as well as Golden State and other top contenders, have shown us the value in being able to cycle through big men in order to assign more assets to perimeter creators, defenders and shooters. Those are the positions that win right now, not rim-to-rim big men.
Maybe that means Hayes shouldn’t be valued this highly at all. However, in the regular season, he will be a handful. And if his mobility, basketball intelligence and length translates into him being able to consistently guard smaller players on the perimeter, he will be a playoff player.
If Williams were in this draft, we would have Hayes above him. Hayes is more polished defending the pick-and-roll and plays smarter despite being a lesser athlete compared with Williams. The Time Lord is every Celtics fan’s favorite prospect right now but if you can move him in place of this pick to get Davis, the opportunity to put Hayes in this slot is nice.