2020 Lottery Pick Wants New Team, Should Lakers Pursue A Trade?
The representatives of much-maligned Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes, the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA lottery, are pining for a deadline trade this season, reports Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press.
Hayes, team president Troy Weaver's first lottery pick with the Pistons, has been underwhelming for the 6-42 Pistons on his current rookie-scale deal. Detroit would be happy to lose him.
Hayes may be good at not turning over the rock, and has some defensive upside, but even in his fourth pro season the 22-year-old can’t seem to effectively score or run an offense. He has become totally expendable on a Pistons club that seems to view subsequent lottery pick guards Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey as more appetizing long-term fit.
Hayes will reach restricted free agency this summer, and it sure seems like his current club isn’t going to match most offers tendered his way above a veteran’s minimum.
The Pistons just made a trade to offload another guard, veteran Monte Morris, so clearly they’re willing to deal. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that Morris is en route to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for guard Shake Milton, wing Troy Brown Jr., and a future second round pick.
