4 players in “prove it” seasons for the Detroit Pistons

Killian Hayes and James Wiseman in a make-or-break season with Detroit Pistons

I put these two together as they are pretty much in the same situation as high draft picks who have underperformed and are in the last year of their rookie contracts.

It’s doubtful extensions are coming, so if these two don’t perform next season it will likely be their last with the Detroit Pistons.

For the first time in his career, Killian Hayes is not guaranteed a spot in the rotation after the Pistons bulked up their guard ranks with Monte Morris, Joe Harris and Marcus Sasser. Hayes may still be a late bloomer, but if he doesn’t show he can shoot at least close to league average, he’ll be blossoming with another team.

James Wiseman has only played 84 games in three seasons, so the first thing he has to prove is that he can stay healthy.

Wiseman has standout athletic abilitiy, but he has to prove he’s making progress on the defensive end, where he still lost after three seasons in the league. He has to show he can make impact as a backup center, which is what he’s likely to be and that the Pistons weren’t nuts to trade for him last season when they already had three centers.

It’s possible that both of these guys will step up, earn spots in the rotatation along with future contracts with the Detroit Pistons, but it’s also possible that both will be out of the rotation and traded before next season is even over.

Time has run out for these two, who have more to prove than anyone else on the Pistons next season.