2019 NBA Draft: Goga Bitadze vs. Jaxson Hayes for Atlanta Hawks
By Dallin Duffy
Defense
This one is close, as both will likely come into the league with the floor of being a great rim protector, but Hayes projects to have a bigger impact on that side of the floor overall.
Hayes made the Big-12 All-defensive squad with his high effort, in-your-face style of D. He’s a ferocious shot blocker who has enough the speed to stay with drivers and the hops to take on the highest of flyers.
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Hayes looks very comfortable as a defender who isn’t prone to taking a play off or getting lost on a play. His high energy and effective play would be a welcome addition a Hawks team was in the bottom of the defensive ranks last year.
Bitadze is by no means a bad defender. He blocked 3.5 shots per 36 and also had his fair shares of big rejections.
He has a far less athletic profile, however, meaning fast guards that Hayes may be able to keep up with could blow past Goga. He’ll need to fight through screens and avoid switches in the league to stymie rampant mismatches.
Both got into foul trouble with their long-armed steal and block attempts last season, though, and whoever can manage that first could really tap into their potential as a post defender.