2019 NBA Draft: Goga Bitadze vs. Jaxson Hayes for Atlanta Hawks

Comparing the top two centers in the 2019 NBA Draft, Goga Bitadze and Jaxson Hayes, and seeing which would be a better fit for the Atlanta Hawks.

In a wing- and guard-heavy draft, the Atlanta Hawks are in prime position to take the first and (hopefully best) big man in the 2019 NBA Draft class.

The Atlanta Hawks have been tied to a big man with one of their 3 first round selections from the jump, and given Dewayne Dedmon’s unrestricted free agency, it makes sense.

The two names that led the pack are Jaxson Hayes and Goga Bitadze, two teenagers who are both 6’11. Fellow centers Bol Bol, Bruno Fernando and Naz Reid also might get some buzz, but the former are the highest on most boards, and the two we’ll be comparing here.

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Background

Hayes is coming off his lone year at Texas, where he won the Big-12 Freshman of the Year by averaging 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks in 23.3 minutes per game.

The blocks jump off the page here, as well as his good yet improvable rebounding and 73% shooting percentage, but has been knocked for his over-physical play (3.3 fouls per game) and his lack of outside shooting. Hayes was also one of the best rim finishers in the NCAA last season.

Goga Bitadze comes from Georgia (the country, not the university), competing in the EuroLeague with much success, posting good lines across the board. He’s an especially good scorer who has a deep bag of post-scoring tricks, as well as a jumper.

When comparing the two further along, it’s worth noting that the stats used for Bitadze will come from his final year in Europe.