The Detroit Pistons selected Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey in the 2020 NBA Draft and at the time it looked like they might form the core of their rebuild.
Things have been up and down for all three players since, with each of them going through some big struggles but also flashing potential.
Things have certainly changed since their first season, and you would probably get a variety of answers if you asked a fan which one of these players has the brightest future.
All three at least look like NBA rotation players, which is a good sign. None of them have looked like stars yet, but after the Pistons were able to draft Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, they may already have their stars of the future to build around.
The 2020 draft class is now in its third season and I think there is a strong argument that things have flipped flopped from where they were after season one.
Detroit Pistons: Which 2020 NBA Draft pick has the brightest future?
After season 1: Saddiq Bey
Killian Hayes lost most of his rookie season to an injury, and only appeared in 26 games, so we didn’t have much to evaluate. He showed some flashes in his brief run, especially as a defender, but his first season has to be given an incomplete.
Isaiah Stewart played in 68 games as a rookie, 14 as a starter and put up 7.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. The 19-year-old looked the part of an NBA player right away, and showed exciting potential as a rebounder and defender. Stewart worked his way onto the second team All-Rookie squad and was drawing comparisons to some of the great Pistons’ defenders.
But it was Saddiq Bey who had everyone excited, as he averaged 12.2 points per game in his 70 appearances, 53 of which were as a starter. He hit 38 percent from long range and set several rookie records for 3-point shooting.
Bey made 1st team All-Rookie and went from a player who had solid role player potential to one that could be a star. We may have gotten a little ahead of ourselves with Bey, and things started to shift in season two.
Detroit Pistons: Which 2020 NBA Draft pick has the brightest future?
After season 2: Still Saddiq Bey but Beef Stew is starting to creep
Hayes struggled in season two and again only played in 66 games. Given his age and inconsistent role after the addition of Cade Cunningham, the book was still out on Killian, though he didn’t make the leap we were hoping for. He still looked like the worst of the three 2020 draft picks.
Isaiah Stewart progressed in year two, upping his scoring and rebounding numbers and starting all 71 games in which he played. Stewart started shooting more 3-point shots at the end of the season and was suddenly being viewed as a potential stretch four rather than an undersized five.
This really raised the ceiling of what he could be as a player, especially considering he was still only 20-years-old and already looked like one of the Pistons’ best defenders. After last season, people started seeing Stewart’s ceiling as something more than just a hustle/energy guy.
But it was still Saddiq Bey who would have been on the top of most people’s lists even though he had a very slow start to the season and his overall shooting numbers went down. He only shot 34 percent from 3-point range, but had some big stretches as a scorer and even put up a 51-point game on Orlando.
Bey had his flaws, but he showed enough down the stretch to make us think there was a huge leap coming in year three. But since this time, things have really changed.
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?