Former first-round pick added to backcourt by Nets
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Brooklyn Nets signed former Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes to a one-year contract as part of their busy summer.
The Detroit Pistons were home to Hayes for his first four seasons of professional basketball. He was selected seventh overall in the 2020 NBA draft. After the trade deadline of the previous season, the Pistons cut Hayes because they were unable to trade him. Hayes was removed from the French Olympic team lately as well.
For the most part, Hayes has underperformed throughout his career thus far. His finest statistical season occurred in 2022–2023 when he played for the Pistons in last place and averaged 10.3 points, 6.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 37.7% from the field and 28.0% from three. Hayes has been a good defender, but his lacklustre offensive output has occasionally rendered him practically unplayable.
What will Killian Hayes’ role with the Nets be?
According to Charania, Hayes “will have a chance to compete for a roster spot with the Nets.” The Nets are predicted to be among the NBA’s worst teams from the previous campaign. If Hayes is able to make the roster, there should be plenty of possibilities for minutes following the trade of Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. Hayes is able to at 6-5
Ben Simmons, who has also played point guard occasionally for Brooklyn, has also been the target of trade attempts by the Nets. If Simmons is dealt, it is hard to picture Hayes not making the final roster and not getting a chance to play meaningful minutes.
Hayes is already a plus-defender and has always had talent. He might be able to establish a career for himself in the NBA if he can only improve as an offensive player. When Hayes was with the Pistons, they weren’t particularly competitive. Perhaps Hayes needs a change of scenery, perhaps in a different but equally relaxed setting.
Hayes, who will start his 23rd season, has plenty of time to refine his technique and advance. For the Nets, this is a low-risk, high-reward decision. If it works out, they essentially paid nothing for a lottery pick-caliber player. If not, it’s simply another guy that they gambled on in a year of rebuilding. There’s more motivation than ever to collapse the next season, especially with a loaded 2025 NBA draft class led by Cooper Flagg, an incoming freshman from Duke.
