The Trail Blazers used their lone 2019 NBA Draft selection to secure the services of North Carolina forward Nassir Little in the first round, but Neil Olshey wasn’t done acquiring youngsters. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Jaylen Hoard agreed to a two-way contract after going undrafted on Thursday.
Wake Forest F Jaylen Hoard will sign a two-way contract with Portland, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2019
Hoard, a 6-foot-9 versatile forward, produced modest numbers on a disappointing Wake Forest team last season. He was among the several prospects that the Blazers brought in for a pre-draft workout.
In his Blazer’s Edge Draft Profile, Hoard’s excellent rebounding and developing rim protection garnered praise.
Outside of generating points, Hoard is an excellent rebounder. He routinely glides through traffic to secure rebounds with perfectly-timed jumps. Armed with a 7-foot wingspan, Hoard has delivered adequate support as a help defender in the paint.
Hoard’s suspect shooting was also mentioned.
After producing a paltry 22.6 three-point percentage last season, Hoard’s hopes of becoming a floor-spacing forward fell short. His serviceable free throw percentage does salvage some of his stock as a shooter, but his future on the perimeter is far from a guarantee.
You can read his full profile by clicking here.