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8P9S NBA Mock Draft 1.0: With the 26th pick, the Indiana Pacers select…

By Ben Gibson

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 16, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 94-78. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 16, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 94-78. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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Jaxson Hayes of Texas
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Jaxson Hayes #10 and Gerald Liddell #0 of the Texas Longhorns celebrate after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks 73-63 at The Frank Erwin Center on January 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

No. 3 — Memphis Grizzlies: Jaxson Hayes, C

College: Texas | Class: Freshman | Height: 6’11” | Weight: 220 | Age: 18

Memphis hit big on their 2018 pick, landing a burgeoning superfreak in Jaren Jackson Jr.

After trading away Marc Gasol, they should hand over the reins to Jackson for the remainder of the season. With Gasol out-of-town and Conley not getting any younger, the Grizz are finally in rebuild mode.

They don’t luck into Zion but snag a prospect with sky-high upside in Texas freshman big Jaxson Hayes. He’s just a puppy, often wandering around the court with little clue of what his going on.

His physical tools are at freak-level: there aren’t many near seven-foot, long bigs who are as fluid and coordinated as he is. He makes some truly stupid defensive plays, warping himself out of position before recovering swiftly.

If Memphis hits on this pick, they could feature one of the best frontcourts in the NBA for a decade. — Ben Pfeifer

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