This summer will be one of the biggest offseasons for the NBA in years.
Superstars such as Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving and several others will be hitting the free agent market, and many of them are likely to find new homes.
But before free agency begins, the 30 teams across the league will turn their attention toward the incoming rookie class.
The 2019 NBA draft may be headlined by former Duke star freshman Zion Williamson, but there are numerous young players in this draft class who could step right in and contribute almost immediately.
Leading up to June 20, I will be breaking down the top guards, forwards and big men in this year’s draft.
Last up is this year’s class of big men.
Jaxson Hayes, Texas
Hayes is the most talented pure center in this year’s draft. The 7-foot, 219-pound big man has the athleticism and skill set to become the next Clint Capela. Playing 23.3 minutes per game at Texas this past season, Hayes averaged 10.0 points on 72.8% shooting while grabbing 5.0 rebounds. The 19-year-old excels above the rim, and his athleticism and strong hands offer him the potential to become one of the league’s better rim-running bigs.
While Hayes certainly made a name for himself on the offensive end of the court with the Longhorns, finishing the season as the nation’s second most efficient scorer, his abilities as an elite rim protector cannot be overlooked. Using his 7-foot-3 wingspan, Hayes racked up 2.2 blocks per game, likely leaving him as this draft class’ second-best shot blocker behind Gonzaga's Brandon Clarke. Hayes' mobility and coordination allow him to beat opposing big men down the court, while also helping him thrive in the pick-and-roll.
He will have to add some muscle to his lanky frame, which should also help with his physicality on the glass, but his tools and athleticism should make him a late-lottery pick.
Bol Bol, Oregon
When you look at Bol, it’s hard not to see his father, 10-year NBA veteran Manute Bol. However, the younger Bol has far more offensive upside than his dad ever did. Bol only appeared in nine games this past season for Oregon before suffering a season-ending foot injury. The injury certainly won’t temper injury concerns around the 19-year-old, but the potential he showed in his limited action has left plenty for NBA teams to be excited about.
Troy Wayrynen/USA TODAY Images Bol's frail frame will cause many teams to think twice before drafting him next week. His medical report will determine how high he is selected, but if he can stay healthy moving forward, Bol could develop into quite the dominating big man.
Goga Bitadze, KK Mega Bemax (Georgia)
Bitadze is a big, strong center with the versatility on offense that should allow him to put together an effective NBA career. Playing for KK Mega Bemax in the country of Georgia, Bitadze averaged 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game. Standing in at 6 feet 11 inches and 250-pounds, Bitadze is a highly skilled interior scorer. In 13 games this past season, the 19-year-old shot the ball 54.8% from the field, including almost 60% on 2-point shots.
While young big men tend to struggle with some of the fundamentals of the game, such as screening, this is not the case with Bitadze. In fact, he is likely the top screener in this entire draft, something that should benefit him when it comes to draft night. In addition to his inside game, Bitadze has begun to develop a 3-point shot, making 31.3% of his long-range shots last season, and has the positive shooting mechanics to improve on that rate.
Bitadze’s struggles mainly come on the defensive end of the court, where his lateral quickness is rather poor. Nevertheless, his offensive upside makes him a promising NBA prospect.
Bruno Fernando, Maryland
Fernando is one of the more polarizing prospects in this year’s draft class. No one can deny his athleticism. At 6 feet 10, 237 pounds, Fernando has long arms (his standing reach is 9-foot-2) and a thick frame that make him an athletic marvel and one of the best athletes in this entire draft. In 30 minutes per game at Maryland last season, the 20-year-old averaged 13.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 34 games while shooting over 60% from the field.
Fernando took a big step in his development from his freshman to sophomore campaigns, improving on just about every statistic. The most significant improvement was on defense, where his intensity and high motor highlighted the fact that the young man was willing to learn how to get better in this aspect of his game. Fernando still has a lot of work to do to become an efficient NBA defender, though, as he tends to show a low basketball IQ on the defensive end of the court.
Fernando has the skill set to become a very productive offensive big man. However, offensive upside and athleticism can only take you so far. Fernando has to work on his defense and fundamentals if he wants to make a career in the NBA.
Mfiondu Kabengele, Florida State
Bol Bol isn’t the only big-man prospect with some NBA family ties. Kabengele seems to have gotten his shot-blocking productivity from his uncle, Dikembe Mutombo, as he averaged a solid 1.5 blocks per game at Florida State this past season. The 21-year-old wasn’t that strong on the boards, averaging just 5.9 rebounds per game, but did show some flash on the offensive boards with an average of 2.1 offensive rebounds.
Kabengele is a good spot-up shooter, showing promise in pick-and-pop situations, but it’s his 3-point shooting that helps set him apart from the other big men on this list. The 6-foot-10, 256-pound sophomore shot the 3 ball at a 36.9% rate, which was actually a small dropoff from his freshman campaign, when he shot 38.5%. As previously noted, Kabengele will have to improve drastically on his defensive rebounding, as he tends to rely on his athleticism more than actually boxing opponents out.
Kabengele has the tools to succeed as a big man in today’s NBA, but he will have to enhance his discipline on defense, along with his decision-making on offense. With his 22nd birthday coming in August, Kabengele is also one of the oldest players selected in this year’s draft, something teams will consider before using a first round pick on him.
Nicolas Claxton, Georgia
For someone who stands just a hair short of 7 feet tall, Claxton has a lot more versatility than most players his size. Claxton can handle the ball surprisingly well, capable of grabbing a defensive rebound and taking it the distance himself. He also showed a strong ability to get to the basket on rolls and cuts, which helped him average 13.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. While he averaged just 1.8 assists last season, Claxton has proven to be a very effective passer and is considered one of the better passers among this class of big men.
Claxton weighs only 217 pounds, which gives him an incredibly lanky frame that causes him to suffer on defense in the post against physical opponents. He has shown flashes of developing into a 3-and-D big, but his outside shooting still needs a ton of work -- Claxton shot 28.1% from the 3-point line, down from 36.4% in his freshman campaign. On defense, the 20-year-old has a ton of upside, as his ability to switch on screens could help him earn some playing time early on in his career. He’s also a good shot blocker, evidenced by his 2.5 blocks per game for Georgia last season.
Claxton is undoubtedly a project as an NBA prospect. He will have to continue to fill out his long frame, as well as improve in the post and work on his jumper, but if he can do this, Claxton could become a solid, versatile big.
Just missed the cut: Luka Samanic, Croatia; Chuma Okeke, Auburn; Jontay Porter, Missouri; Daniel Gafford, Arkansas; Eric Paschall, Villanova