By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being waived by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2023-24 season, Killian Hayes gets an opportunity to jump back into the NBA via the Brooklyn Nets.
Hayes, 22, signed a one-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets to compete for a place on the roster, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
In the 2020 NBA draft, the French point guard was selected with the seventh overall pick by the Pistons. Failing to meet expectations, he was limited to 8.1 points per contest over four years at Motor City. Since being placed on waivers in February, Hayes has been an unrestricted free agent.
Last season, he averaged 6.9 points, 4.9 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per contest over 42 appearances, including 31 starts. Shooting 41.3% from the field shaped a slight improvement compared to his first three seasons in the league but also confirmed room for improvement. Struggling to get going at Detroit, creating for teammates and defense emerged as his best qualities.
Before jumping to the NBA, Hayes produced 12.8 points per game in the 2019-20 installment of 7DAYS EuroCup with ratiopharm Ulm. A youth product of Cholet, he moved to the German club for one year. Representing France at the junior level, he was the most valuable player leading his country to gold medals in the 2017 FIBA U16 European Championship. He settled for silver and a spot in the All-Tournament Team of the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup.