Pistons to waive former first-round pick

Former lottery pick Killian Hayes will be released by the Pistons, according to a report from James L. Edwards III and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft, Hayes entered the NBA with a reputation for being a solid defender and passer whose offensive game was a work in progress. That’s essentially still the case, as his shooting percentages have increased only marginally throughout his four NBA seasons.

Hayes averaged 6.9 points, 4.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game across 42 appearances (31 starts) this season, with a shooting line of .413/.297/.660. Those field goal and 3-point percentages represent career bests.

The Pistons reportedly explored the trade market for Hayes before Thursday’s deadline — talking to the Grizzlies, among other teams — but didn’t find a deal to their liking. 

The team agreed to a series of trades that will bring in seven players while sending out three, so the 22-year-old guard will be a victim of the roster crunch, joining Joe Harris among those waived.

Cutting Hayes and Harris will put the Pistons in a position to complete at least one and potentially two of their three reported trade agreements. 

They’ll need to waive two more players to finalize all three deals, but those last two cuts could come from their group of newly acquired players.

Hayes will be eligible to sign with any NBA team if and when he clears waivers since his salary is well shy of this season’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception.