Pistons waive former top-10 pick Killian Hayes during flurry of trade deadline moves, per report

He Detroit Pistons are cutting ties with a 2020 lottery pick less than four seasons after his NBA career. The team releases the point guard Killian Hayesthe No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The move comes around Thursday’s 2024 NBA trade deadline as Detroit has been one of the league’s most active sellers.

Hayes, 22, began the 2023-24 campaign as a starter despite his disappointing first three seasons, but was benched amid his team’s historic 28-game losing streak in favor of lottery pick 2022. Jaden Ivey. However, he had even more trouble coming off the pine, leading Detroit to cut him midway through the final season of his four-year, $24 million contract.

Hayes averaged just 2.6 points on 29.6% shooting in 11 games as a reserve for the Pistons. He shot just 11.1% from deep and 40.0% from the charity stripe in those games. Hayes averaged 6.9 points in 24 minutes per game overall this season, but shot 29.7% from 3-point range.

While it was reported that there was commercial interest in Hayes from the Memphis Grizzlies Before the deadline, the two sides could not reach an agreement. It remains to be seen if other teams will look to sign Hayes for the second half of the season.

The Pistons had a busy deadline. The team was also involved in a deal that sent Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks to the Knicks and traded guard Monte Morris to the Timberwolves. The Pistons also reportedly acquired Danuel House and a second-round pick from the 76ers. However, the Pistons reportedly plan to waive House along with Hayes and veteran Joe Harris.