Which Detroit Pistons 2020 draft pick has the brightest future?

Detroit Pistons: Which 2020 NBA Draft pick has the brightest future?

After 24 games this season: Isaiah Stewart with Killian Hayes closing fast

What a difference an offseason and 24 games can make!

If you asked me right now after 24 games which of these three players had the brightest future, I’d say it is Isaiah Stewart but Killian Hayes is closing quickly and could overtake him soon.

Stewart has shown everything we wanted to see this season, as he is shooting a respectable 35 percent from 3-point range on 3.9 attempts per game, right where we were hoping he would be.

He has shown he can play the four or the five and is an effective switch defender from either position, though still not much of a rim protector. His numbers are up to 12.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and he’s shown more comfort as a passer and penetrating off the bounce on close outs. Stewart just keeps getting better and looks like an NBA starter.

Killian Hayes had his coming out party last night against Dallas, but has really played much better over his last 10 games, averaging 11.5 points, six assists, three rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 44 percent from the floor and 38 percent from 3-point range.

He looks like a completely different player than the one that started this season, a testament to the confidence coach Dwane Casey showed by allowing him to play through his struggles. Since moving into a larger role, Killian has looked confident running the offense, shooting the 3-ball and has finally even started hitting some floaters and mid-range shots. That confidence has spilled over to the defensive end, where he has been a menace of late.

He’s evolving into the “quarterback” coach Casey said he wanted and after last night, I think you could argue that his future looks the brightest of the three, especially given his age, though he still has to do it with consistency before that can be said with confidence.

It’s now Saddiq Bey who looks like the least promising of the three, as his 3-point shooting has taken a shocking decline since his rookie season. He’s been relegated to a bench role and is currently shooting just 27 percent from long range.

Some of the defensive issues we overlooked in the first season are more prominent now that he’s not hitting shots, and Bey’s name has even been mentioned in recent trade rumors.

It’s wild how our perception of these three players has changed over the last 2+ seasons, and I am sure it will continue to evolve as their careers progress. It’s only been 24 games, so there is plenty of time for this to change again.

So which player do you think has the brightest future?