Pick No. 7 (DET): Killian Hayes, PG
Detroit is a little all over the map. They have made some good calls in drafting Sekou Doumbouya and landing guys like Delon Wright and Jerami Grant. They can’t seem to get out of their own way, though, with shoving guys like Mason Plumlee and Jahlil Okafor into their cap space. They’ve also held onto veterans like Derrick Rose for far longer than they should have. Just flip your veterans for picks and give the minutes to your prospects, it isn’t that hard.
Drafting Killian Hayes is another interesting choice.
Hayes has only played seven games so it will again be difficult to make an actual verdict on the pick. In that time, he has put up per-game averages of 4.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. His shooting splits are .277/.250/.500. Really, really bad. Drafting a taller guard to eventually replace DRose was the perfect thinking for Detroit. It is just so difficult for me to comprehend a team in this draft picking a single guard before Tyrese Haliburton. He shoots very well, has an incredible basketball IQ, and has an excellent frame. If you were drafting a guard in the lottery, he was more than the obvious choice. Haliburton, Sekou, and Grant is a legitimate base to build on.
Verdict: Too early for a verdict, but still bad. Detroit missed a great opportunity.