Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes, the No. 7 pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, may be on his way out, per the latest rumors:
Killian Hayes’ camp, per a source, would prefer the fourth-year point guard land with a new team. The Pistons seem to agree. Hayes, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 draft and Weaver’s first pick to lead the rebuild, has been a healthy scratch the past two games with the backcourt at full strength.
Since the team drafted him in 2020, Hayes has been very disappointing.
In his Pistons career so far, Hayes is averaging 8.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Additionally, Hayes’ career 27.6 3pt% has earned him a reputation as one of the worst three-point shooters in the NBA. On the defensive side of the ball, Hayes is not much better.
This season in particular has not gone much better for the 22-year-old. Though he has started 30 games this year, Hayes has fallen out of Detroit’s rotation. In his place, the 6-42 Pistons will stick with the backcourt duo of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Additionally, the team’s depth chart lists NBA veterans Monte Morris and Alec Burks ahead of Hayes.
Although it has been a rough stint with the Pistons, Hayes still has the potential to be successful in the NBA. At 6’5, Hayes’ size allows him to be versatile and play either guard position. Additionally, Hayes is a solid playmaker, despite his turnover troubles. Lastly, his athleticism alongside his size gives me the tools to be a good defender in the league. Just because it has not worked out in Detroit, that does not mean it may not work out somewhere else.
BREAKING: Killian Hayes wants a new team
“Killian Hayes’ camp, per a source, would prefer the fourth-year point guard land with a new team. The Pistons seem to agree.”
(Via https://t.co/DErN6QVL3N) pic.twitter.com/1uBFylL9MG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 4, 2024
NBA Rumors: Detroit Pistons Moving On From Past Top-10 Pick?
Will the Pistons Trade Killian Hayes?
It seems inevitable the Pistons will move on from the guard before the February 8 NBA Trade Deadline. In addition to Hayes’ poor start to his career, the former lottery pick is in a contract year. Per CBS, this makes Hayes a “candidate to get moved elsewhere” from the Pistons:
Considering that Hayes is in the final year of his contract and has seemingly fallen out of favor in Detroit, the 2020 lottery pick could be a candidate to get moved elsewhere ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
Another interesting note is that, according to The Athletic, the Pistons “were close to trading” Hayes before current head coach Monty Williams joined the team:
It is my understanding that Detroit was close to trading Killian Hayes before Monty Williams’ arrival, but the coach, who had been intrigued by Hayes from afar during the first two seasons of the Frenchman’s career, wanted a chance to work with the 6-foot-5, 22-year-old guard.
Although it seems likely Hayes has played his final game for the Pistons, the guard talked about wanting to stay with the team back in January:
I’ve spent my entire NBA career in Detroit and it would be a pleasure to be able to stay. After that, it’s not just me who decides, but Detroit is my home. It’s been my home for three, four years and I hope to stay.
Who Has Interest in Killian Hayes?
So far, not many teams have stood out as suitors for Hayes. However, per Bovada, the San Antonio Spurs are currently the betting favorite for the guard.
Killian Hayes’s next team odds per @BovadaOfficial #detroitbasketball pic.twitter.com/jEk4vp78Q2
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) February 4, 2024
Getting paired with fellow Frenchman and Rookie of the Year candidate, Victor Wembanyama could be the change of pace Hayes needs to reboot his NBA career.
