Pistons: Killian Hayes’ return and 4 things to watch in the second half
By Duncan Smith
4. Killian Hayes’ return
Just seven games into Killian Hayes‘ rookie season, he suffered a major hip injury against the Milwaukee Bucks. That injury was later diagnosed as a torn labrum, and it’s sidelined him ever since. However, he’s progressed nicely and is on track to get re-evaluated next week and may return shortly thereafter.
Hayes struggled mightily up until his injury, but those struggles weren’t a surprise. His shot has a long way to go, and the fact that he settles too often for a step-back is a problem. As is the fact that he still preferred to avoid going right, making it too easy for teams to load up on that side against him and force him to give the ball up early or choke up a step-back.
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I wouldn’t expect him to look any better upon his return, but that return is the first step towards needed progress in his NBA career.
3. What’s going to happen with the point guard rotation?
In early February, Delon Wright went down with a groin injury and the Pistons traded Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks for Dennis Smith Jr. and a 2021 second-round pick. Smith couldn’t crack the rotation with the Knicks and had only played three games, and he even asked to be sent to the Westchester Knicks in the G League to get some reps in.
Instead, he got sent to Detroit, which makes for a better opportunity, but it didn’t appear that their point guard situation was particularly favorable. All the Pistons had at that spot was Smith and second-round pick Saben Lee, who was playing on a two-way contract.
Over the past couple of weeks, Smith has had a breakout on offense and his defense has been nothing short of a surprise, and Lee has looked like he belongs in the NBA since the start. Delon Wright is likely to get moved at the NBA trade deadline, but Lee, Smith and Hayes are going to make for an interesting point guard corps indeed.