Detroit Pistons: Will Saben Lee beat out Killian Hayes this season?

Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes, Saben Lee and how they fit with the starters

If Saben Lee is really going to take minutes from Killian Hayes, he will have to find a way to fit in with the starters, which is where I see a problem.

Lee needs the ball in his hands to be effective, as he loves to break defenders down off the dribble, use his quickness to get into the lane and then finish with a floater, dunk or pass to a teammate.

Hayes is less of a penetrator and more of a passer who uses change of speed and pick-and-roll to get to his spots.

Lee is probably too ball dominant to play much with Cade Cunningham, and would be more effective running the offense in the second unit.

In fact, he showed a promising two-man game with Luka Garza that could be a go-to for the Detroit Pistons’ bench as the season progresses.

Here Lee uses his quickness to get into the lane before setting Garza up for the kick-out 3-pointer:

Lee and Garza were great in the pick-and-roll, which they ran successfully time and time again in the first half against Orlando.

Lee is better suited to run with a bench unit where he can be the primary ball handler and make plays, and I hope to see he and Garza get a chance to see if their synergy translates into the regular season.

Advantage: Hayes

Saben Lee is going to push Killian Hayes and I expect some fierce training camp battles for minutes, but in the end, Hayes is the better defender and the more high-ceiling talent, so he is going to get every opportunity to keep his spot in the rotation, but it’s nice to have Lee there as insurance.