Detroit Pistons: Best and worst-case scenarios for the guards
Best and worst-case scenarios for the Detroit Pistons’ guards
Alec Burks
Best-case scenario
The best case for Burks is that he is once again a 40 percent shooter from outside and becomes one of the keys to unlocking the Detroit offense around Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. He is healthy to start the season and plays 81 games as he did last year. The Pistons are so happy with him that they decide to pick up his team option for the following season and he becomes an important veteran off the bench as the team makes a run at the playoffs.
Worst-case scenario
Burks is likely to miss time at the beginning of the season, so the worst case is that his recovery from surgery takes longer than expected and he doesn’t play much before the deadline. At that point, he wouldn’t be much of trade asset and Detroit would be stuck in a tough spot, as they could either move him for peanuts or hold onto him and hope he can stay healthy for the future. That would be a $10.4 million risk if the Pistons had to pick up his option, or a potential waste of an asset if they didn’t exercise his option and let him become an unrestricted free agent.
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Killian Hayes
Best-case scenario
The best case is probably want we saw from Hayes in the Pistons’ open practice, as he was aggressive looking for his shot and taking it to the rim and was actually knocking them down.
In the best case, Killian finds a shot he can hit consistently, whether it is the mid-range jumper, corner 3-pointer or floaters in the lane. We know he can pass and defend, so if he can add some offense to that, Detroit could have their own version of Marcus Smart and will be happy that they picked up his team option for next season.
Hayes challenges for a starting spot and makes Detroit seriously consider making him the starting point guard.
Worst-case scenario
More of the same. Hayes shoots below 40 percent from from the field and less than 30 percent from 3-point range again, making it tough to keep him on the floor with the second unit. The Pistons explore trade options at the deadline and find there isn’t much of a market, so either end up bringing him back after another poor season or trading him for nothing. I think we’ll see Killian be one of the guards who gets closer to his best-case than his worst.