Detroit Pistons: 3 Reasons Killian Hayes is an NBA Draft bust

Picking Killian Hayes seventh overall in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft was a choice the Detroit Pistons made based on need, not talent.

When it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for Detroit Pistons fans, newly-hired GM Troy Weaver decided to deliver the latest low-blow to Motor City basketball faithful. He bypassed multiple, higher-grading prospects to select France’s Killian Hayes seventh overall in the 2020 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.

Instead of drafting from a pool of players that included the reigning NCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Year Obi Toppin, or top international forward Deni Avdija from Israel, the Pistons decided to roll the dice on a point guard with plenty of question marks regarding how his game will translate to the play-style of the modern NBA.

Detroit also decided to bypass Tyrese Haliburton, another point guard with a higher grade, in favor of Hayes. Maybe, Pistons fans are jaded when it comes to the NBA Draft after watching so many premier players get bypassed over the years in favor of prospects that never seem to get off the ground. Does Darko Milicic ring a bell, anyone?

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3 Reasons Killian Hayes will be an NBA Draft bust

Scanning the internet, there are many different opinions on Hayes’ game ranging all over the map.

Some scouting services have mentioned that he’s been deemed the “German James Harden” because of his ability to perform in isolation.

However, his list of weaknesses stretches a mile long and lends plenty of evidence to the idea that the Pistons made a mistake drafting him at seventh-overall.

1. Watching his film, it’s obvious that the use of his left hand dominates Hayes’ game. Making matters worse, he seems almost unwilling to go towards or use his right hand. His predictable left-handed preference will be schemed against by the entire league on a nightly basis, where opponents will consistently force him to his right. This could become a nightmare for both Hayes and the Pistons. Playing on one half of the floor will not bode well for this inconsistent shooter that struggles to get to the charity stripe.
2. He’s not extremely athletic and will struggle with smaller, quicker guards. He needs to increase his defensive intensity. Against the stiffer competition, Hayes often looks quite normal and does not tend to stand out. He has all the tools to defend across the perimeter but needs to find the motor to be consistently motivated. Glimpses of greatness are there, but they often dissipate as quickly as they arrive.
3. Hayes is a turnover machine who struggles when facing pressure-focused defensive schemes. For Ulm, the youngster had the misfortune of turning the ball over on one-of-four of his possessions. Imagine how that lack of ball security might translate to the NBA against the best coaches and defenders the entire world has to offer?

There’s always the chance that a prediction of this magnitude could be fleeting. However, simple basketball logic suggests that both Hayes and the Pistons have their work cut out for them with this boom-or-bust prospect.

When watching the 19-year-old’s game film, there are plenty of things to be excited about. However, his development towards becoming a reliable contributor in the starting lineup is sure to be a nail-biter for Weaver and company this season.