The New Orleans Pelicans continued to build for the future with their eighth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft being Jaxson Hayes.
“I’m really just excited right now,” Hayes said. “Excited my family’s here with me. Excited my name finally got called. So that’s really all I can say. Just really excited.”
The pick was acquired earlier in the evening as part of a trade to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the No. 4 pick that was acquired in the Anthony Davis trade that happened over the weekend.
Hayes, the third straight center from the University of Texas to go in the top 10, averaged 10 points, five rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game last season with the Longhorns
The 6’11” forward looks to fit in well with Alvin Gentry’s up-tempo offense that just about thirty minutes prior had selected Duke star Zion Williamson.
“I think it will pair really well. We’re both really athletic guys. Zion obviously is a freak. But I feel like we’ll match up really well together.”
-Clint Domingue