When does the clock stop ticking on Killian Hayes?
When it comes to defense and passing, Killian Hayes is one of the best on the Detroit Pistons. No question about it.
However, the 2020 NBA Draft No. 7 overall pick has one glaring weakness: He can’t shoot.
In his career, Hayes has made just 37.8% of his shots. He has a 26.8% shooting percentage on threes. For comparison, center Isaiah Stewart made 32.6% on threes last year.
His inability to shoot, and thus making himself a threat on offense that defenses feel they have to cover, cost Hayes his starting position. His last start was January 18 against the Warriors.
Hayes went to the bench, and blossomed. He did well being the point guard for what had been a struggling bench mob.
He still closed out games with Cunningham, as he provided a defensive stopper. Hayes looked far more aggressive on the offensive end as the season came to a close.
All good news. Hayes has shown potential but, as seen with Frank Jackson, eventually, potential has to turn into production.
By October 31, Detroit must decide whether to pick up Hayes’ option on a contract for 2023-24. The price tag is $7,413,955 if his option is picked up.
That is a lot of money for a backup point guard who struggles to make a jump shot. The potential might be great (Hayes will be just 21 when training camp starts), but that is what he is right now.
Do the Detroit Pistons decide Killian Hayes might cost too much?
If Hayes still continues to be unable to consistently make a jump shot to start the season, do the Pistons decide they do not want to commit to that salary, and not pick up Hayes’ option?
The fact Detroit would not pick up Hayes’ option, if it occurs, does not mean he can’t return the following season. As an example, the 76ers did not pick up former first-round pick Furkan Korkmaz’s option in Oct. 2019, but signed him over the summer to come back.
All it means is that Hayes would not be guaranteed $7.3 million for the season after next. Detroit can gamble that other teams would not offer Hayes near that size of a $7 million contract, and they can bring him back at a lower number.
With the 2023 free agent class expected to be better than this year, Pistons general manager Troy Weaver may want to give himself as much salary cap flexibility as possibility for that off-season.
Hayes’ third season in NBA begins soon. Yes, he has had injury problems (missing some of last season and two-thirds of his rookie year) and he is still very young (only Cade Cunningham was younger last year, and only by a few months) but, at some point, Hayes has to show he deserves to be paid like a No. 7 overall pick.
Is there anything that can really be drawn in Frank Jackson not having his option picked up, and Killian Hayes’ future with the club. If Hayes can not improve on his offensive production, we might find out soon enough.