8. New York Knicks – Killian Hayes, G, France
It wouldn’t be surprising for teams to shy away from Killian Hayes, especially earlier in the draft, due to the fact that he’s one of the youngest players in the class. With that said, there is plenty to like about Hayes. He’s coming off a season in which he averaged 13 points and six assists on 46 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Hayes is still considered more of a project compared to other guards selected in the top 10 and it’ll be important for teams to bring him on at a slow pace. Could that turn off teams in the top 10? Perhaps. Though, that could be another team’s game.
Hayes might not be the biggest contributor during his rookie season in the NBA, but there’s a chance he becomes a real contributor 2-3 years down the line. The Knicks need to be patient, but they could emerge with a steal at No. 8.