Ex-Pistons Lottery Pick Lands New NBA Opportunity

As the Sacramento Kings deal with some major injuries across the roster, the team is going to give a former lottery pick a shot to land a standard deal.

According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Kings are signing Killian Hayes to a contract. The NBA G League standout will pick up a 10-day deal, giving him a limited chance to showcase his skills at the main level once again.

Hayes, a six-year NBA veteran, started his career with the Detroit Pistons as a high-end lottery pick.

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The Sacramento Kings Are Dipping In The Minor League System

This season, Hayes has been playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ G League squad, the Cleveland Charge.

Hayes started in 18 of the 19 games he played during the G League regular season. The veteran guard shot 47 percent from the field and 31 percent from three to average 22.4 points per game. He also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists.

Despite spending time with the G League affiliates of the Cavs and the Brooklyn Nets, Hayes carries plenty of NBA experience with him. The 24-year-old was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 7th overall pick in 2020.

On the Pistons, Hayes appeared in 210 games, picking up 145 starts. He struggled with his shot, making just 38 percent of his field goals and hitting on 27 percent of his threes. Hayes posted averages of 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.0 turnovers per game across four seasons.

During the 2023-2024 NBA season, the Pistons cut ties with Hayes after failing to find a trade deadline deal.

Last year, Hayes signed a 10-day deal with the Brooklyn Nets. He started five out of the six games he played. The former Piston saw the court for 27.0 minutes per game.

He shot much better, making 41 percent of his field goals and 38 percent of his threes, to average 9.0 points. In addition to his scoring, Hayes averaged 5.2 assists and just 1.5 turnovers per game.

Who Is Currently Out For The Kings?

The struggling Sacramento Kings need depth. On February 13, the Kings announced that the star guard Zach LaVine will undergo season-ending surgery on his right hand. That confirms the end of his 2025-2026 NBA season,

Just a few days later, the Kings announced that the standout center Domantas Sabonis would be out due to a knee injury. He will undergo surgery, and his season concluded as well. Then, there’s Sacramento’s big trade deadline acquisition, De’Andre Hunter.

Just weeks after acquiring Hunter, the Kings announced he would undergo season-ending eye surgery. He played in just two games for the Kings before that decision was made.

Heading into the final stretch of the NBA season, the Kings are 12-46. Sacramento is the 15th seed in the Western Conference and is in the midst of a 16-game losing streak. It’s not an ideal situation for any player to walk into, but Hayes will certainly get a chance to boost his stock once again.