When the Detroit Pistons landed the first pick during the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery, excitement around the city immediately erupted. With the team set up to draft the top prospect in the draft class, Cade Cunningham, Pistons GM Troy Weaver brought his team one step closer to completing their restoration, but what about Killian Hayes, the point guard they already had?
On draft night, the hype surrounding Detroit taking its future franchise cornerstone came to fruition. Cunningham was selected first overall by Weaver and the front office. With a new franchise point guard on the roster, many are left to wonder what role 20-year-old Killian Hayes will fill heading into his sophomore season.
Detroit Pistons: What does Cade Cunningham mean for Killian Hayes?
Hayes was Weaver’s first draft selection as the GM of the Detroit Pistons. Taken seventh overall, the 6-5 lefty was expected to be the future of the point guard position in Detroit.
Unfortunately, Hayes struggled throughout his rookie campaign. The 20-year-old was named to the starting lineup right out of the gate, and his struggles compounded through the first seven games of the season. Hayes would injure his hip and miss the next 40 games of the 2020-21 season. Upon his return, Hayes would start in 11 of his final 19 games of the season.
The rookie’s first season in Detroit came with a mix of good and terrible. Hayes showed a natural playmaking ability running the point guard position for Detroit. His crosscourt, thread-the-needle assist against the Oklahoma City Thunder is the top highlight from his rookie year.
The 20-year-old was the best passer on Detroit’s roster last season. His creativity and accuracy passing the ball were unmatched by any other Pistons player. Hayes would finish the season averaging 5.3 assists per game. 29.7 percent of his teammates’ made field goals came off assists from the 20-year-old when he was on the court.
Hayes was also a very stout defender for the Pistons last season. He was able to use his long arms to interrupt passing lanes and strip the ball away from his opponents. He hounded his marks on the ball and was relentless in his defensive effort as well.
The stellar playmaking and defense that Hayes possesses have made many believe he would be a great backcourt mate for Cunningham next season.
Having two guards who can make plays for their teammates and be a solid defensive backcourt sounds really good on paper. In fact, In those two areas alone, Cunningham and Hayes would be perfect to pair together. But Hayes’ struggles with shooting efficiency will inevitably hold this pairing back.
Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes’ shooting struggles would inevitably take the ball out of Cunningham’s hands
Hayes was an abysmal three-point shooter last season. On 2.8 attempts per game, the 20-year-old only managed to sink 27.8 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. That percentage was second-worst on the roster for any player who attempted one or more threes per game.
Heading into the offseason, shooting was the obvious area of his game Hayes needed to work on developing. If the pairing of Cunningham and Hayes were to work efficiently, both players would need to be at least average at off-ball shooting.
After two games in the Summer League, Hayes’ struggles to shoot the three continue to plague him. In their matchup against the Thunder, Hayes attempted two shots from beyond the arc, he missed both. In their second game against the Houston Rockets, Hayes failed to sink any of his four shots from three-point range.
Hayes’ continuing struggles to shoot from long range do not bode well for the upcoming season. If the young point guard is unable to increase his shooting efficiency, a backcourt tandem of Hayes and Cunningham would be bad for the development of both youngsters.
In the ideal scenario, a Cunningham and Hayes backcourt would allow the two young point guards to split time as the main ball-handler and initiator on offense. When one is bringing the ball up the court the other becomes an off-ball shooting threat. If Hayes’ struggles from three continue, this dynamic would not properly work.
Without the threat of being a potential catch-and-shoot guy on the outside, teams can help off of Hayes on defense. Freeing up a help defender when Hayes is playing off-ball would make it harder for Cunningham to effectively orchestrate Detroit’s offense.
Inevitably, Hayes’ continuing inefficiency would either place him in a bench role, or delegate Cunningham to an almost entirely off-ball role when the two share the court. With Cunningham being the face of the franchise for Detroit, relegating him to an off-ball role would hinder his development and Detroit’s future outlook.
As the first overall pick and future of the team, Cunningham should have the ball in his hands the majority of the time when Detroit is on offense. Cunningham should be the primary initiator and ball-handler, not Hayes.
Forcing Hayes to be an off-ball shooter seriously hinders the effectiveness of Detroit’s offense, but forcing Cunningham into an off-ball role reduces his impact on the game.
The best player to pair with Cunningham in Detroit’s starting lineup would be Hamidou Diallo. While the restricted free agent is still yet to be re-signed by Detroit, all signs point to his return. Diallo’s athleticism and length provide him with superb defensive potential. His athleticism also makes him a great cutter off-ball.
Additionally, Diallo’s career-high 39 percent three-point shooting last season would adequately space the floor and keep defenders engaged while Cunningham is running the offense.
Hayes coming off the bench would allow both players to be the primary ball-handler in separate lineups. Plus, the second unit needs a playmaker.
Detroit Pistons: Hayes would be a great playmaker and defensive leader for Detroit’s second unit
A second unit with Hayes, Frank Jackson, Josh Jackson, Isaiah Livers/Sekou Doumbouya/Trey Lyles, and Kelly Olynyk would provide Hayes ample opportunity to be the main ball-handler.
Depending on how the power forward situation shakes out, Hayes would be surrounded by three very solid three-point shooters and a below-average shooter in Josh Jackson.
With no Cunningham in the mix, it would be Hayes’ offense to run. He would bring the ball up court and initiate the offense. Bringing Hayes out with the second unit not only opens up space for Cunningham in the starting lineup, but it also provides Detroit’s bench with one of the league’s most adept young passers.
It would not be the perfect lineup. If Doumbouya is placed in with that unit, he and Josh Jackson would impede the spacing of the second unit. If Lyles or Livers find their way into the bench lineup, that spacing would become much better.
Hayes would also be a defensive leader for the second unit.
With Isaiah Stewart anchoring the defense in the starting lineup and Hayes presenting a potential role as a defensive leader with the bench unit, Detroit’s team defense could see a major improvement this upcoming season.
Like Stewart, Hayes can set the tone on defense for his teammates. Hayes’ relentless and hounding attitude as an on-ball defender would immediately set the standard for the rest of Detroit’s subs.
In the right situations, pairing Hayes and Cunningham in the backcourt together is always a possibility as well. But keeping them separate for the most part would maximize Detroit’s playmaking in both the starting lineup and bench lineup.
Ultimately, head coach Dwane Casey is likely to experiment with a Cunningham and Hayes backcourt this season. If Hayes is able to become at least mediocre as an outside shooter, the offense could really take off next season. But if Hayes continues to struggle from beyond the arc, his best role may be as a sixth man off the bench.