Detroit Pistons: Pros and cons of playing Killian Hayes this season

Detroit Pistons: Should Killian Hayes return from injury this season?

Pro: One of the worst parts of Hayes’ injury is that he is not getting a chance to build chemistry and rapport with his fellow rookie and young players.

This is especially crucial for a guy who is thought to be the point guard of the future and will be asked to be a  leader.

This brings up another point: are we sure Hayes is a point guard?

If the Detroit Pistons were to land a top pick in the 2021 Draft, many of the best players are point guards, so it’s possible Hayes could be moved off the ball or even to the wing.

The Detroit Pistons would love to have some more film to evaluate before the draft so they have some idea of how they might employ Hayes in different situations with potentially different teammates.

Bringing him back this season would allow him to start to build that chemistry with the rest of the young core and to get a better idea of what he will be in the NBA.

Con: Although there have been cases where players fully recovered from the same injury (LaMarcus Aldridge is one), there is a chance that this could plague him for the rest of his career, especially after opting out of the surgery.

If Hayes were to get injured again, he might never be the same, much like Isaiah Thomas, who was never the same guy after he re-injured his hip. Thomas is still trying to find his way back into an NBA rotation years later, which is exactly what the Detroit Pistons want to avoid.

Maybe I am just being paranoid or super cautious, but it just doesn’t seem to be worth the risk. I get that fans are impatient and that the Detroit Pistons want to get this rebuild going but another setback to Hayes would be more devastating to that progress than him missing the rest of this season.

The Detroit Pistons have a tough decision to make and I am sure it will be one guided by medical advice, but they can’t ignore that bringing Hayes back carries a fair amount of risk.