Second-year Pistons guard Killian Hayes, a former lottery pick, has improved as a contributor since being demoted to Detroit’s bench three games ago, writes Steve Kornacki of The Detroit News. Head coach Dwayne Casey opted to start veteran point guard Cory Joseph over Hayes, thinking Joseph could be a better fit alongside score-first No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham.
“Killian’s only played (23) more games than Cade… and made the transition coming in from Europe,” Casey said. “So, there’s a lot going on for the young man. But we’re patient and will continue to work with him. He’s big, he’s strong, and his shooting is going to come. I have all the confidence in the world it’s going to come.”
Hayes, still just 20, has struggled to find his footing in the NBA. A labral tear limited him to just 26 contests during the 2020/21 NBA season. Across 33 games as a starter next to Cunningham this year, Hayes had been averaging 6.2 PPG, 3.6 APG and 1.5 turnovers a night while connecting on 34.3% of his field goals. During his three contests off the bench, he’s posting averages of 8.3 PPG on 38.1% shooting, plus 6.3 APG and a turnover.
“I’m going to have the ball in my hands a bit more with the second unit,” Hayes said of his new role with the 11-37 Pistons. “Just trying to bring more energy and be more vocal with the second unit coming in, and then also, whenever I play with Cade, just give him help as the point guard.”
There’s more out of the Central Division:
- The Pistons have plenty of trade chips ahead of the February 10 deadline. Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press takes a look at the players who are most and least likely to be moved this year. Second-year GM Troy Weaver has big decisions to make on veteran forward Jerami Grant, veteran center Kelly Olynyk, Cory Joseph, and others.
- The upstart 30-19 Cavaliers have emerged as a true force in the Eastern Conference, despite missing two of their best guards in Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio, both most likely done for the season. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com assesses potential roster upgrades available to Cleveland. The play of guard Darius Garland, center Jarrett Allen, and rookie power forward Evan Mobley has proven especially galvanizing for the team. Fedor weigh in on whether the team should be willing to move on from young players like Sexton or wing Isaac Okoro in pursuit of a win-now veteran.
- After being named to his first All-Star team at age 22 while with the Sixers, now-31-year-old Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday has not been sweating the chatter surrounding his very possible second-ever All-Star berth this year, writes Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Holiday enjoyed an eventful 2021, earning his first NBA title with Milwaukee and nabbing a gold medal with the U.S. Men’s Olympic team.
Keep okoro unless they land an all star. Once his 3 is closer to 40 percent he’ll be a 35 min a night guy
Hayes is a bust, I called it when they picked him.
Thought Obi, Tyrese or Cole would’ve been a much better pick for them.
They need to try salvage something for him before everyone else knows he is a bust.
Go small
I’d try Jalen Smith for Killian Hayes.
I’d try NAW for Hayes
Hayes and a second for KPJ
Go big
Jerami Grant, Killian Hayes and a first for Julius Randle.
Jerami Grant, Killian Hayes and a first for DeAndre Ayton
We’ll take Okoro today.
That’s fools gold going for vets now. You build around those three. Really around those five Markkanen, Okoro included. You get picks and young vets to grow together. Don’t mess this up now.
Love and Sexton can bring back good talent. This draft first rd is loaded with bigs. But there is a shooter or three in there too. Cavs are not winning anything anytime soon. They said same thing about Hawks after last yr. Look at them now. I think Grant is a great piece for this team. And you can use Sexton to get him. I’d also be looking at Kings. They have young talent and they have to break that team up. Buddy can help Cavs. Probably get him cheap too. Love should be moved to Lakers. THT and their pick. Stick with the youth.
I predict one of following 5 players join Cavs next few days
Harrison Barnes
Dragic
Gary Harris
Eric Gordon
Hield
Those players have little value, please don’t play hard ball
One First, Sexton and Rubio
How are you going to say little value and proceed to include Sexton in the trade?
Cavs should be doing everything possible to keep the loss to Rubio and a first.
Cade is a pg and needs the game to game repetition to develop as one. Raptors fans recognize how poor Casey is in player development. Free Cade !!!!
Top 5 free throw % – two Warriors and two Hawks
and Garland
1
Stephen Curry GS
2
Jordan Poole GS
3
Danilo Gallinari ATL
4
Darius Garland CLE
5
Trae Young ATL
Many FO’s (including the Knicks’ FO) were high on Hayes prior to the 2020 draft. He’s been hard for me to assess because he’s played so little, and even less as a PG, and has been so babied by the DET hierarchy. I would think now that he’s quarterbacking the second unit, teams that were interested might start monitoring him. DET’s GM is a good (or better) evaluator, but too proprietary and too enamored with piece collecting. I don’t see this as a good platform for him.
Hayes was young coming in. He’s a big kid but is still developing. I still like him and think he’ll be fine. It’s best for him now to backup and learn. I don’t see Cade as a PG. He’s a wing to me with good vision. He’s for real. Detroit can move Grant and have multiple picks in this draft. Plenty of bigs in this draft. Detroit with this draft will load up with young talent. That’s the way I go.
I’m sure interested to see where Grant goes. Would love to have him on Knicks.
Would you take a Grant plus bits for Randle deal?
I think Randle could be a really good fit with Detroit. He brings some playmaking ability, some shooting, some size and athleticism.
Just imagine Cade …. Bey Randle Stewart