Detroit Pistons: Evaluating a proposed Killian Hayes for Coby White trade

The Detroit Pistons will have the number one overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, which they will likely use to take point guard Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham is a 6-foot-8 point guard with superstar potential on both ends, as he can score from all three levels and plays plus defense.

This has led to speculation that the Pistons might trade last year’s lottery pick Killian Hayes, who theoretically plays the same position as Cunningham.

In a recent Athletic article by Darnell Mayberry (SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED), he suggested that the Detroit Pistons might be interested in trading Killian Hayes for shooting guard Coby White of the Chicago Bulls.

On paper, it makes some sense, as the Bulls need a pass-first point guard and the Pistons need scoring and may be getting their point guard of the future in this year’s NBA Draft.

But games aren’t played on paper, which is why this trade is not happening. Here’s why.

Detroit Pistons: The Pistons don’t yet know what Killian Hayes can be

The Pistons didn’t get to see much of Hayes after he missed most of the season with an injury.

He did show some flashes and gave fans reasons to be excited, but he was up and down, as you would expect from a teenager trying to learn the most difficult position in the NBA.

Hayes did show he can be a passer and potentially an elite defender, but he also had some success off the ball, something the Pistons would love to explore after getting Cunningham.

Having two facilitators is not a bad thing, especially when one of them can also create shots for himself. It’s way too early to sell on Hayes, even if White is currently better and fits a more pressing need.

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham will play all over the place

Cunningham isn’t going to be a traditional point guard, he will play all over and can fit into just about any lineup given his size and ability on defense.

He might end up being more of a point forward type like LeBron James (NO I AM NOT SAYING HE’LL BE AS GOOD AS LEBRON SETTLE DOWN) who creates offense in a number of ways from all over the court.

Killian Hayes and Cunningham are a fit because Cade is a fit with anyone. Fans get obsessed with positions and “fit” but the league is becoming more and more position-less and guys like Cunningham don’t just have one position.

Detroit Pistons: Are we sure Coby White is that good?

If you just look at the raw stats, White looks like a player who could help the Detroit Pistons as he could offer some scoring punch that they currently lack, especially alongside Cade Cunningham.

But White doesn’t really fit the mold of what the Pistons are building, as he is not a very good defender, and he doesn’t fill a need in that he isn’t a great 3-point shooter.

There are way cheaper ways to get shooting than to give up your 19-year-old lottery pick for a guy whose ceiling is not nearly as high and only shoots 35 percent from long range.

The Detroit Pistons are very very very unlikely to trade Killian Hayes and I will add another very in there just to make it clear. They sure aren’t doing it for a middling shooting guard who profiles as a career bench player.

The Chicago Bulls are going to have to come up with an offer way sweeter than that to pry Hayes out of Detroit.