Top 3 Centers in NBA Draft 2019

As has been pointed out at multiple occasions, the center position in the NBA has evolved drastically over the past few years. Modern day bigs have laid more importance in developing an outside game rather than inculcating a back-to-the-basket approach in order to survive in the ever-changing NBA landscape, and this draft class is no different.

The following are all respectable finishers of the pick-and-roll, while some have already proven to reliable three-point threats. However, the following prospects do need to figure out the needs of pro defense so that they can mould themselves into complete packages on both ends of the floor.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the top three centers from the projected 2019 NBA Draft class.

#3 Goga Bitadze

Goga Bitadze was the EuroLeague Rising Star award this year.

Listed at 7 feet, the Georgian professional ticks all the boxes of an ideal center that can help a team right away. With a reported 7-3 wingspan and 9-2 standing reach, Bitadze led the EuroLeague and Adriatic League in blocks per game. Projected as the 17th pick overall by ESPN, the 19-year-old has already shown signs of being an efficient player on the offensive end as well.

According to Julian Andrews of NBA.com,

Bitadze is an NBA-ready big man who has a lot to offer on both ends of the court. While he’s slow, which could be an issue given the pace of the NBA game today, he projects as an effective, old-school big man at the next level.

Moreover, he makes up for the lack of lift off the ground and an inability to play above the rim as a target for lobs with good footwork and agility on the floor, as well production off the pick-and-roll consistently. His big, strong frame of over 250 pounds comes in handy while setting sturdy screens.

Carrying talent and a work ethic that doesn't reflect his age by any means, Bitadze is expected to fare well in the gruelling and cut-throat competition of the NBA owing to his maturity.

#2 Bol Bol

Bol Bol is the son of legendary 7'7" center Manute Bol

Out of Oregon state, the 7-feet-2 piece of art is the longest player to be drafted this year. To add some spice to his NBA welcome, the 19-year-old made more than half of his three-point attempts(52%) and shot 57% from the floor before his brief college season came to a close due to a non-displaced fracture of the navicular bone in his left foot.

Bol Bol's wide ranging abilities has the NBA scouts(like everyone else) in splits.

“Be careful. Everybody is lying about Bol Bol,” one team executive told David Gardner of Bleacher Report. “Every team thinks they have him figured out. The ones who like him a lot are spreading negative rumours about him, and the ones who don’t want to draft him are propping him up.”

"His resting demeanour makes him look aloof, like he might rather be sitting on the couch," says one NBA scout. "I don't really think that's his fault. He's not that different from most guys his age. He's not a vocal leader, but he's also not a bad egg. More than most, it'll depend on what kind of team drafts him. If they have a great culture, I think he'll really excel."

According to ESPN, he was ranked the third-best shot-blocker among likely draft picks and is projected to picked 15th in the upcoming draft in June.

#1 Jaxson Hayes

Jaxson is the son of former NFL player Jonathan Hayes.

Standing at 7 feet and carrying a 7-3 wingspan, Hayes was the second best shot blocker in college among other likely draft picks. If he could take care of his foul trouble(six fouls per 40 minutes), the uber talented 19-year-old is projected to be the top center to be drafted this year as the 11th overall pick.

One of his major highlights came during his team's fifth win of the season where he finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, and started to believe in his potential.

“That’s when I first saw my name on the draft board,” Hayes said at the NBA Combine in Chicago. “One of my friends sent it to me. . . That was when I was like ‘I can definitely do this.’”

Jaxson made 74% of his free throws which is fairly decent for a big man in the NBA, and also possesses the ability to beat the opponent with his fluidity and quickness on the court and in the air near the rim.