Like all teams in the NBA, the Detroit Pistons have had some terrible draft picks, but none has hurt them more recently than the selection of Killian Hayes with the 7th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
We’ve spent plenty of time criticizing Hayes, who was the most polarizing Pistons player in recent memory. His fans thought he was always on the verge of breaking out, while his detractors just saw one of the worst shooters in NBA history.
The Pistons have drafted worse players with Hayes, who at least suited up in the NBA, but that’s only because Detroit was tanking so it didn’t matter how bad he was.
He’s now in the G-League, and at just 24-years-old, there’s still a chance....sorry, that was just for the Killian Stans, as I’d be shocked if Hayes ever played a meaningful role on an NBA team.
Most Pistons fans would point to the selection of Hayes because the Pistons passed on Tyrese Haliburton to take him, but I am ok with that part of it, as I can’t stand Haliburton and think Cade Cunningham is far better. If the Pistons take Haliburton, they probably don’t get Cade, and I will take that trade off.
But the Hayes’ selection still has issues that haunt the Pistons to this day.
Detroit Pistons draft: The Killian Hayes effect
There were many ways Hayes hurt the Pistons aside from not getting Haliburton.
The Pistons passed on plenty of guys that are now playing well and would look great in Detroit. Obi Toppin is not great, but he’s a rotation player on a team that just made the Eastern Conference Finals, and he played a big part of it in the playoffs.
Deni Avdija looks to be on the verge of stardom if last season’s post All-Star break numbers are to be believed.
Jalen Smith, Devin Vassell, Aaron Nesmith, Cole Anthony, Precious Achiuwa: Just some of the role players the Pistons could have taken and that’s before you get to huge misses like Tyrese Maxey and Demond Bane, stars most of the league missed on.
Before drafting Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland, the Pistons were desperate for wings and forwards, yet kept taking guards, partly because Hayes stunk and couldn’t be factored into their long-term plans.
You have to wonder what the Pistons’ recent draft history would look like if Hayes had even been passable, as they might have chosen someone different than Jaden Ivey, may not have wasted a pick trading up for Marcus Sasser and wouldn’t have wasted time on a trade for Monty Morris.
Hayes then stole developmental time from Ivey and Sasser when Monty Williams kept running him out there, which cost those players much-needed reps.
I don’t care about losing out on Haliburton, but the Pistons could have a valuable role player, possibly another skilled forward or even no one would have been better than Hayes, who just ate up minutes he didn’t deserve.
The Pistons are happy with where they are now, and I wouldn’t change this team, so in the end, the Hayes’ pick was part of the journey, but it’s one the Pistons would definitely love to have back.